I am back from the dead, temporarily, this Superbowl Sunday. Danielle LaPorte, co-author of Style Statement, one of my favorite books of 2008, has recently launched a new site of her own, White Hot Truth. A fusion of inspiration, provocative inquiry, and good style, it's a great site to follow.
One of her posts, in which she was interviewed by Larry of Yesterday,Today, Forever, included an invitation to post if you wanted a series of 5 interview questions from her.
I was delighted to accept that challenge, as the answer I am trying to give as often as possible in life is captured beautifully in Danielle's image above.
Here are her questions, and my answers:
image: Danielle LaPorte from truisms on WhiteHotTruth.
1. Got a motto?
I think I decided that my motto was going to be "I'm too old for this shit" whenever anything bothered me and I was over 30. But I started using it when I was about 29. When I was in my earlier 20s, I would think things like "Hmm, this situation/relationship/job/friendship/etc isn't really working for me- I guess I'll give it another year or so and see if it gets better." I never do that myself anymore. In my thirties now, I am much more proactive and motivated to change things that don't work immediately, and to eliminate clutter and chaos whenever possible.
I have a friend whose motto is "Don't do me any fucking favors." I like that one, too. I love being around people who want to be there, doing what they love. I thrive on real passion and love being a part of it.
2. What do you do best?
I think I am great at seeing potential, both in people, and in situations and ideas. As a coach, I often find myself at dinners where someone has made an idle comment about somewhere they want to go, or a project idea or job consideration, and two hours later over by the time we get to coffee and dessert I've quietly helped them build an empire.
I love helping people see how big the beauty can get if they are willing to believe in it. It's such a joy to serve that way. And I often feel like an idea channel. Or some kind of firehose.
3. What's your advice for healing from heartbreak?
Read as much Sophie Calle as possible. She's a French photographer and performance artist with the greatest approach to life. I have a book I got after a break-up about six months ago called "Take Care of Yourself." Someone broke up with her in an e-mail, which ended with the line that is the title of the book. She sent the message to over 100 women and asked them to analyse the message for her as a way to do just that. The book is a compilation of the analyses and it is riveting. It's probably the only coffee table art book I sit down and read. My ex was a very good writer, so the analysis sometimes seemed to apply to me as well.
She has another great book called Exquisite Pain about the ending of a relationship, and that is a good one, too.
I like her because she reminds me that art comes out of loss, too. It helps to remember to be creative when it feels like something has died- it pulls you through to the renewal. That and lots of tea and snuggling with pets.
4. What does "reambulous" mean? Did it come to you in a dream?
It's actually "Remabulous," which is a combination of remarkable and fabulous. I made it up when I was 6. I really liked the cover of one of my mom's cookbooks that had a big gingerbread house on it and I couldn't find a way to say both words at the same time. My family was supportive of the creative, thankfully, and we all just decided it was my word. They even started using it now and then.
I used it for the company because I think it encaptures the sort of lives my clients want to have, but also because creative people often have to make up their own titles for the ideal work- it made sense to use a made up word as part of that process.
I like the idea of it being in a dream- maybe I'll have a remabulous dream now!
5. What book inspires you to be a full tilt creative genius?
I just read Yes Man by Danny Wallace- the memoir that the film was based on. I really enjoyed the film, but the book is really different. It takes place in London, and the drive to say yes comes from a more subtle place than a big super-seminar like in the film.
There was something so beautiful about a guy waking up to life and saying yes to everything it brought him. I aspire to that now- I think it was a life-changing message, even though it was so simple. But then again, big truths can usually be said in very few words. I recommend that book to everyone I talk to. It's really touching and funny and it makes me want to seize every opportunty and adventure that crosses my path.
I can't wait for what comes next!
Thank you so much for the wonderful questions, Danielle!
Because Danielle is such an inspiration, I am making White Hot Truth the site of the month this February. Enjoy it!
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