I Want . . .
I want:
to allow myself to be tickled; to have long wavy Gisele Bundchen hair; to refuse to bury myself in memories; to eat at a restaurant on the waterfront once a month; to read with the intensity I did as a child, as a beginner; to write many, good short stories; to dress up when everyone else is dressed down or dress down when everyone else is dressed up and feel confident about my choice; to be my version of a "perfect mother" for just one day to see if it really lives up to my/their expectations; to learn to listen; to teach someone to read; to get involved with issues instead of just blathering on about injustice and inequality and indignity.
I want:
to be forgiven; to write more frequently than I watch TV; to care for a garden; to plant herbs; to eat tomatoes that I have grown on a vine; to see Capote; to attend The Dan Band concert; to meet Mick Jagger; to have a Summer tradition of renting a cabin by a lake or the ocean; to take a bubble bath RIGHT NOW; to help shape my children into happy and responsible and kind boys; to make a large ceramic bowl at I Made This; to eat at the Indian restaurant tomorrow night; to pay more attention; to have a new washer and dryer and a Dyson vacuum; to be able to run a mile without getting winded; to sit outside on a hot night and drink a beer while the citronella candle flickers; the war to end; to see some of my work published; to believe what Rilke said to the young poet; to learn to like silence; to be smart enough to pause more often; to be the wife that my husband deserves; to live a life that is graceful and poetic, yet flawed and real; to drive across the United States with my family in an RV; to watch my children try new things; to only say things that are genuine; to only do things that are genuine; to paint my bedroom; to paint the town.
(Inspired by Megg, who reminded me that it's okay to want things for myself. While some of my "wants" are impossible (see Gisele Bundchen hair), others are attainable, and many are already in the works. Y' gotta name it to claim it!).
to allow myself to be tickled; to have long wavy Gisele Bundchen hair; to refuse to bury myself in memories; to eat at a restaurant on the waterfront once a month; to read with the intensity I did as a child, as a beginner; to write many, good short stories; to dress up when everyone else is dressed down or dress down when everyone else is dressed up and feel confident about my choice; to be my version of a "perfect mother" for just one day to see if it really lives up to my/their expectations; to learn to listen; to teach someone to read; to get involved with issues instead of just blathering on about injustice and inequality and indignity.
I want:
to be forgiven; to write more frequently than I watch TV; to care for a garden; to plant herbs; to eat tomatoes that I have grown on a vine; to see Capote; to attend The Dan Band concert; to meet Mick Jagger; to have a Summer tradition of renting a cabin by a lake or the ocean; to take a bubble bath RIGHT NOW; to help shape my children into happy and responsible and kind boys; to make a large ceramic bowl at I Made This; to eat at the Indian restaurant tomorrow night; to pay more attention; to have a new washer and dryer and a Dyson vacuum; to be able to run a mile without getting winded; to sit outside on a hot night and drink a beer while the citronella candle flickers; the war to end; to see some of my work published; to believe what Rilke said to the young poet; to learn to like silence; to be smart enough to pause more often; to be the wife that my husband deserves; to live a life that is graceful and poetic, yet flawed and real; to drive across the United States with my family in an RV; to watch my children try new things; to only say things that are genuine; to only do things that are genuine; to paint my bedroom; to paint the town.
(Inspired by Megg, who reminded me that it's okay to want things for myself. While some of my "wants" are impossible (see Gisele Bundchen hair), others are attainable, and many are already in the works. Y' gotta name it to claim it!).
posted by Cate at 9:05 AM
18 Comments:
Lovely, miss Cate. I want so much myself and might have to borrow this wanting idea/list. I believe that by writing our desires and wants out on paper, they become.
PS. Capote is out on video and incredible.
I want:
...more of your writing.
Thanks again for making us think.
Read ya' later!
That's an amazing stream of consciousness. Very interesting take on what's important.
Mmmmm, what a delicious post. We want many of the same things. I did however have to google image Gisele Bundchen and oooooookkkkkkkk, I want her hair too (and apparently so do most young men by the looks of the pics). Had to make sure it wasn't curly though, heehee.
Beautiful, yummy post.
a.
P.S I want more of your writing too.
YES! I loved this post - it was great!! I've been making my list since last Thursday & it's getting bigger and bigger! I think that I should sit down and stream-of my list maybe instead. (I love her hair too... ) lots of things resonated with me in your lists - ME TOO!!! I kept saying!! xoox
What a great list. Isn't interesting how the simple things are what we truly want. It's all about relationship and little details - soul food. I hope you do all of these things...
LoveLOVE this post. Like others have said, I may have to steal this idea for my blog too. How can the Universe know what to give you if you don't make your wishes known, yes? I hope you get manyMANY of the things on your list, Cate.
I love it!!!!!
I want..........to write like YOU!
As usual, you have added some wonderful inspiration to my day.
this line "to live a life that is graceful and poetic, yet flawed and real" has resonated deep within me.
i love this brave, honest, fun, beaitiful list you have created.
for some reason, as i was reading this and think about these words "i want", i could hear Morgan Freeman's voice narrating part of The Shawshank Redemption. He must have a line in there where he says something like, "i want...i want..." Redemption through owning what we want. An interesting image.
Excellent list - excellent point (you gotta name it to claim it). If you never aspire to anything, what will you achieve?
So enjoyed your post. I have many similar wants.. one is to paint my bedroom. :-)
Hey, great post. I guess it ain't too bad to want things sometimes. I'll be publishing your story some time in the next week or so.
With all us women wanting (not to be confused with wanton women -- at least not entirely) tuning in to our desires and speaking them outloud, I see some great changes on the horizon.
I want you to get what you want.
Acumamakiki,
I'm off to the video store today to rent it and the Squid movie! I hope you create a list and share--I would love to read it!
Human Z,
I want . . . a permanent fur coat to stay warm in this awful weather (no, just kidding--I already spend enough money trying to do away with superfluous hair!)
Jason,
Thanks for commenting, Jason. Some days, stream of consciousness is all I'm capable of producing!
Andrea,
I think that Gisele is also in the Victoria's Secret catalog that I rec'd in the mail--the very same catalog that makes me believe that if I wore a leopard print halter and spandex pants, I would look as sexy as the model (hahahahahahaha). Oh, and I LOVE curly hair--you don't like? The bigger and curlier, the better!
Megg,
I felt like a jackass writing my list because many of the things are soooo unattainable! Your list was real and conquerable! You've inspired many, many people with your "I want" post--thank you for your gift to all of us!!
Jennifer,
You said it! It's all about the little details, paying attention, noticing (i.e. the smell of pot roast in the oven on a cold day!). Thanks for your comment!
Debr,
"How can the Universe know what to give you if you don't make your wishes known, yes?" YES, YES, YES! I love this--like it's about asserting desires. I hope you do this--I'd love to read your list!
Acumamakiki,
I'm off to the video store today to rent it and the Squid movie! I hope you create a list and share--I would love to read it!
Human Z,
I want . . . a permanent fur coat to stay warm in this awful weather (no, just kidding--I already spend enough money trying to do away with superfluous hair!)
Jason,
Thanks for commenting, Jason. Some days, stream of consciousness is all I'm capable of producing!
Andrea,
I think that Gisele is also in the Victoria's Secret catalog that I rec'd in the mail--the very same catalog that makes me believe that if I wore a leopard print halter and spandex pants, I would look as sexy as the model (hahahahahahaha). Oh, and I LOVE curly hair--you don't like? The bigger and curlier, the better!
Megg,
I felt like a jackass writing my list because many of the things are soooo unattainable! Your list was real and conquerable! You've inspired many, many people with your "I want" post--thank you for your gift to all of us!!
Jennifer,
You said it! It's all about the little details, paying attention, noticing (i.e. the smell of pot roast in the oven on a cold day!). Thanks for your comment!
Debr,
"How can the Universe know what to give you if you don't make your wishes known, yes?" YES, YES, YES! I love this--like it's about asserting desires. I hope you do this--I'd love to read your list!
Judy,
Ohh, thank you so much for your kind, encouraging words and for stopping by!
Liz,
I love Morgan Freeman's voice--so strong, it gives me goosebumps! Thanks you for your lovely comment!
Holli,
I think Dr. Phil coined the phrase (I gotta give credit . . . )! You're so right--thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Colleen,
I'm so insecure about painting walls--I see it as a huge project and I feel that I always do a cruddy job and make a mess. But I love the idea of a new bedroom retreat . . . !
CR,
I was excited to see you, my friend! Thanks for the opportunity and hope all is well with you!
Wenda,
Last night, I read your post on the very same subject. There's a bit of electricity circulating, don't you think--so empowering!
Judy,
Ohh, thank you so much for your kind, encouraging words and for stopping by!
Liz,
I love Morgan Freeman's voice--so strong, it gives me goosebumps! Thanks you for your lovely comment!
Holli,
I think Dr. Phil coined the phrase (I gotta give credit . . . )! You're so right--thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Colleen,
I'm so insecure about painting walls--I see it as a huge project and I feel that I always do a cruddy job and make a mess. But I love the idea of a new bedroom retreat . . . !
CR,
I was excited to see you, my friend! Thanks for the opportunity and hope all is well with you!
Wenda,
Last night, I read your post on the very same subject. There's a bit of electricity circulating, don't you think--so empowering!
that was fun to read, and your wants are some of mine.
except.
to drive across the united states, WITH THE FAMILY, in an rv.
to me, today, that sounds painful. I love the kids, the husband, the whole family, but to be stuck in an r.v., driving for hours, and hours, with me and my family would be too much. you are a good mother just by the fact you thought of that! see, so you got something that you wanted.
It would also make you a good mother if you had the dyson. so go get the dyson and scratch another mark on the bedpost!
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