Name a person that would make you sweat if they showed up at your door?
Creative instigator extraordinaire Dyana Valentine asked me this question when we began working together. In a nanosecond my heart yelled, Danielle LaPorte, but I hesitated to say it out loud. They know each other well and it felt scary vulnerable to admit. Sidestepping a little, I came up with a few others – Wayne Dyer and Oprah and Lyle Lovett – but I wouldn’t really freak out if they showed up.
Okay maybe for Lyle.
I kinda feel like the other two would sit with me, we’d have a fascinating conversation and I’d end up feeling really good about myself, no matter what. Don’t get me wrong, it would rock my world to hang with them, but there’s something about Danielle that makes me think, Holy-Mary-Mother-of-God I’d have to show up. All of me. 100%. I would have to bring it to the table or she’d turn and walk away because she’s too busy rockin’ her own world – and ours – to waste time on someone who lets fear get in the way. And I am drawn to that like a moth to a flame because I want to show up. I want to bring all of me to the table and put it out for people to fill up on and I want the energy exchange that goes along with that. The energy exchange that brings both soul satisfaction and a steady flow of cash. That cash part that has been missing from my life since I became a mama.
There is something about the way Danielle thinks and writes about the world, about life and work and love, that makes me sit up and take notice. I’ve even thought, I want to be her when I grow up, (though we’re close to the same age). But I don’t. I want to be me. It took the death of my son and whole lot of work, but I finally feel like me. The me who shows up, inspires others, creates meaningful interactions, writes and speaks my truth and makes a great living doing it. The me who walks into a room of world changers and knows, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I fit in. Inspired by Danielle, and Dyana, and so many others, I am showing up. In the biggest way I know how. 100%. All of me.
Available for download mid-July, Picking up the Pieces: thoughts on grief and growth.
…with more to come…
I love this. I’ve met Danielle and agree with you – there’s something about her presence that is electric, demanding in the best possible way, but also gentle. I spent the whole time in the room on the verge of tears, and didn’t say a word (it was a group firestarter). I still don’t have words for why.
It’s so hard to show up all the time, isn’t it? You inspire me to try harder. Thank you. xo
And what a beautiful, meaningful, amazing 100% it is!
P.S. I feel the same way about Danielle 🙂
Interesting! ‘Cause over here ‘we’ have not heard of Danielle yet, so I did some clicking today.
I show up every day – only the past five months for real…. (but alas, can’t make a living out of it). You know, I cannot wait for the ebook to show up! The writers line up is amazing!! (and of course I mean not myself but you and the others ;-))
I look forward to meeting 100% of you in the flesh next week. xoxo
Wow Alana!! I had not idea you were creating this! I am so stoked for July 11th!! You are so freaking inspiring and have already inspired me in so many gentle ways. You are just at the beginning and I can’t wait to see what will happen next!
HUGE hugs!
I was nodding and yes-ing my way through this entire post…I felt it deeply! sending big love your way. xo
Sugar, there are so many things that beg to be said here. I wish we could sit and talk about this. But here, in this small huge space, let me just say that I felt reinforced, fortified when I read your words about the energy exchange that brings both “soul satisfaction and a steady flow of cash.” That speaks to me on so many levels – validates a project I’m unveiling next week. One that’s had me in knots about charging money or giving it away. And after a lifetime of giving away my time, energy, experience, and expertise – after a lifetime of giving away my life – I have decided to take a stand and charge money – not much, but some – for my creations. Just making that decision caused a palpable shift in me, thunking me on the head to remind me that we have to teach other people how to value us and our creativity. It all starts and ends with us, our self. It’s definitely an inside job.
everyone has been talking about Danielle… and right now i finally just watched a video of her on Susannah Conway’s site. i sat up and took notice right away. and – btw – i would do a little freak out for Kyle, too. the difficult thing for me is realizing i have to be the one to reach out and get these people to rock my world. and to know that i don’t have the luxury they will show up when i need them too. thanks for a good reminder to pay attention and to show up 100%!