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When Michaelangelo was asked how he created his Statue of David, he answered, “I just saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

And in From Strength to Strength, Arthur C. Brooks says you are thinking about it wrong if you view your life as an empty canvas on which you need to create. Instead, he says you are already a complete work of art. Your life’s masterpiece emerges as you chip away everything that is not the essence of you.

You may have a bucket list. And I’m a collector of experiences, too. I view life as a treasure hunt for new places, special people, and neat experiences. I believe in pursuing our dreams now. So I’m not ready to completely toss out my bucket list.

But Brooks makes the point that if we think we have to add things to a bucket that starts out empty in order to have a fulfilling life, we can become frenzied. In that state we risk missing the joy of the journey we’re on. Beyond that, we miss seeing that there’s an angel inside already. YOU have been there all along.

Today I’m reflecting on how I might differentiate between what part of my life is sculpture and which part is stone that I can chip away.

How do you filter opportunities? How do you know when you’ve hit bedrock on who you are at your core? How do you slow down to enjoy the journey?

Whatever your methods, here’s to hoping you can always see a clear vision of the masterpiece that you are!

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Hello Friend,

I once visited my doctor, Lee Rice, who is as much a mentor as my physician. I told him I felt like pieces of my life were falling apart. I was going through a romantic break up, I had eaten more pounds of french fries than produce in the preceding six months, and I felt lost career wise.

One of Dr. Rice’s best qualities is the way he listens; and his empathy alone is therapeutic. He let me explain my pessimistic outlook and then shared an encouraging observation that has stuck with me ever since.

“In my years as a physician I have seen many people rebuild their lives from seeming ruin,” he said. “And it didn’t take that long, either,” he added. “For example, one man had to declare bankruptcy, was going through a divorce, and was addicted to narcotics. He turned his life around and In just a few short years he was growing a new business, enjoying a strong relationship, and living sober. It is never too late.”

From time-to-time I feel like I’ve dug myself into a hole. And every time I think about what Dr. Rice told me. I think to myself that if someone can completely remake their life in just a few years, I can certainly reverse the course and get on a better track.

Friend, If you find yourself feeling hopeless about any aspect of your life today, I hope you will be encouraged that change is fully possible.

With love,
Lisa

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Hello Friend,

In 2019 I visited Yellowstone National Park with my parents and sister. We hired a tour guide who had encyclopedic knowledge about its geysers, mudpots, bears, bison, and other marvels.

At a scenic overlook where we hopped out of the car for a photo op, he nonchalantly said something surprising.

Forest fires are good for nature.

Pointing out the pinecones on a nearby tree, he told us they were “serotinous cones.” That type of cone can hang on a Pine for years, but the seeds won’t be able to be released because the cones are encased in a resin. To be released, the material has to be melted away. That only happens when there is a forest fire. So there is a mechanism for rebirth triggered just when it is needed most.

Our guide also explained that forest fires have many benefits. They clear away old brush to make room for the new. They remove the build-up of kindling, preventing a much larger blaze in the future. And they deliver nutrients back to the soil through their ashes.

Have you ever felt a desire for something new to come into your life? I have. And I wonder if we can make room for that “new growth” by clearing out some of what is ready to be “upcycled.” Whether it’s removing physical clutter, pruning an overly full calendar, or releasing burdensome expectations of ourselves, I have a sense that burning down some old growth will create fertile soil for something fresh while simultaneously nourishing what should stay.

This spring(summer), I hope you enjoy a sense of roominess and ease.

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Connect with the host, Lisa Liguori:
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