Inhabiting, Intentionally

I’ve shared one of my favorite poems on my site by Dawna Markova entitled, “I will not Die an Unlived Life,” because it has always spoken so loudly to my soul. One of my favorite parts of the poem is “I choose to inhabit my days.”

I still remember the warmth that flooded my face and chest when I first read (actually heard) that line. How that one phrase just stuck out. I remember thinking, “Wow! Yes! A million times, YES!” It still hits me like that even today.

Yes, I want to inhabit my days… but also my pain, joy, grief, elation, fear, everything. I don’t want to take anything for granted, nor let a day pass by that I haven’t been fully present. Even in the hard parts. Since I’m human, I don’t always succeed of course. Auto-pilot has a way of taking over when we let ourselves become consumed with busyness and To-Do lists. So, I gently remind myself to breathe, refocus, and return to being fully present, with intention.

Ten years later, Markova’s poem has been floating through my mind again as I’ve been on a quest to more intentionally pursue the feelings and sacred things my soul and spirit need in order to be fully alive and present in each day. 

Luckily, I’ve been doing so with the help of Danielle LaPorte’s 2019 Planner, “What I Will do to Feel the Way I Want to Feel,” and it’s been wonderfully inspiring (a big need of mine!). It’s a sidekick to her latest book, The Desire Map. This beautiful planner encourages me to welcome the feelings I want in my life by intentionally pursuing them. No waiting around for my soul’s needs to be magically met by the universe, my loved ones, or some kind stranger trying to pay-it-forward. But intentionally inhabiting my mind and body.

This feels like making my needs a priority.

Making myself a priority.

Most importantly, making inhabiting my days a priority and filling those days with things that bring me fully alive.   

Won’t you join me?

Check out the Be Inspired page for more info on LaPorte’s work