A friend of mine made a list of things to do in the coming year.  These were not dry and responsible things like: lose weight, pay off debts, or exercise more.  No, no, no.  This was Tara, after all, and Tara doesn’t do “dry and boring.”  On her list were “juicy and sexy” things – things like a trapeze class, a workshop in California with a dear friend, movies in the park, and things that made her “feel excited and alive just thinking about doing them.”

Tara has the right idea!  I hereby suggest we forever abolish the idea of boring and responsible resolutions each New Year.  Instead let’s pick a day (birthdays are a good day for this) and list five really fun and juicy things we want to do in the coming year.

What makes you feel wild and alive and juicy and free?

This is one of my favorite things about the book The Artist’s Way.  I love the way Julia Cameron encourages us to think outside our comfort zone.  She gives suggested assignments like the following:  List ten things you’ve always wanted to do but were afraid to try.  And you might find yourself listing things like: dye my hair, pose nude for an artist’s class, go hang gliding, and learn to play the harp.  Or list ten things you would do if time and money were no object.  And then you’d write things like: go to Africa, have my own art studio, get an RV and travel the country.

Did you ever make a bucket list?  I did once several years ago before I even knew that’s what it was called.  I listed things like:  hear a wolf howl, see some whales, and make love with that guy I used to fool around with in high school.  (I’ve accomplished two of these things.  Unless you count “in my dreams,” and then it’s all three!)

If “no time,” “no money,” and “fear” were unacceptable excuses, what would you do if you could do anything you wanted?  You don’t necessarily have to think big, but definitely think juicy.  Before you do anything else, list three things right now.  Write it on a piece of paper and then put it in your desk drawer.  Or your bathroom mirror.  Let the ideas percolate in your subconscious.  Pretty soon you’ll be surprised to find yourself not only entertaining these ideas, but doing them!

Go, go, go!  It’s good to feel ALIVE!