Things are stirring up with A YEAR TO LIVE

When Margot recommended that I invite others to join me in my experiment to live next year as if it's my last I thought it was a great idea. I invited my family first. Then some close friends. Then I sent out an email invite to a larger group and even posted that invite on Facebook and Twitter.

The response has been beyond what I could have imagined. I've been getting a wide and wonderful variety of responses. Many enthusiastic joiners saying things like, "I'm IN!", "This is just what I needed", "I"m scared but excited. Thanks for sharing this idea". Then I got one that stopped me in my tracks. Amidst all of the happy people signing up to live next year with more gusto, passion and consciousness, I got a long email from a man who was very angry with me. He called me IRRESPONSIBLE and REPREHENSIBLE. I've never been called reprehensible before, at least not to my face. He told me he hoped the experiment would get SQUASHED before it got started. He used CAPS so it felt like he was yelling at me. I don't know who this man is but I was shaken by his response to what I am doing.

I responded to his email with as much calm as I could muster. I could tell this man had a deep concern and passion for people. He was worried that I was going to lead them to live wildly for a year and blow all their money. That people would be left destitute at the end of this experiment and I would be to blame. I tried to reassure him that it was not my intent, but in the end I won't take responsibility for how others choose to live their lives. If someone leaves a soul-sapping job and starts a dream career, if passion is rekindled in marriages, people become better parents, or get into the best shape of their life I won't be responsible for that either.

So, why is it that I was so rattled? Well, there are two things at play:

First is that a small part of me is afraid people might have a bad experience next year and blame me. I've had a tendency in my past to feel overly responsible for others. I've grown and now see others as capable, and I know that I can't see what is the best path for others because I'm not living their life. I may have my ideas, and offer suggestions but I don't have the answers. My intention is that people will have a great experience, but life will do what it will and I can't guarantee that any of us will have a good time.

Second is that I really like to be liked. I think of myself as a good person, and it matters to me how others think of me. Clearly it matters too much. In fact I can think of times in my life when I've held myself back for fear that people might think badly of me for stepping out of line, acting too big, following my passion. I don't even know if people have thought badly, just the fear of it has kept me small at times.

Fred's email was a great opportunity for growth for me, and today I am so thankful to him, whoever he is. For me this experience is about growing into the person I want to be. The one who will boldly live her life in love and joy, who will offer inspiration to others to join her in the dance, but trusting that we all hear the music we are meant to hear and we will move in the way that best suits us. So I am moving forward to the music that is calling me to Live a Year like I've never lived before.

Thank you Fred, whoever you are.

If you want to join me in this experiment, email me at; Debra@Bcelebrated.com