SharedBliss: Connie of DirtyFootprints & Creative Dig

On May 7, 2008, I did my first interview here on Blisschick. On July 30, 2008, I interviewed Connie of Dirty Footprints, and who could have guessed where that would eventually lead?

(For all the interviews, go here.)

That new relationship with Connie grew and evolved and led to the creation of our workshop that will take place in Cleveland on September 26th. (There is still time to sign up.)

I am initiating new Blisschick interview questions and what more appropriate way to do so than to have Connie back. (You can find all of Connie's "vitals" here.)

I hope you like the new questions; they sprang forth from all of the Wild Woman talk that has taken place here.

Describe the components of your Bliss Path: the things/activities/structures that help you to be brave and choose bliss every day?

I am the luckiest chica on the planet, because I have Hansel--my life partner. He is the greatest support I could ever imagine. When I start to doubt myself or fall prey to fear, he is right there picking me up and encouraging me to follow my truth. He knows when I'm fooling myself as well and always calls me out on it. I'm so blessed to have him on this journey.

Another component that helps me be brave and to choose bliss is my Yoga practice. Through Yoga, I can do little experiments on the mat that lead me to believe I can handle anything in the real world at times. Plus, Yoga helps me see that there is nothing to be afraid of, only situations at hand that need to be dealt with. Yoga has given me strength to do what I know needs to be done at times.

Last, I think journaling is a huge component to being brave and choosing bliss. Journaling, especially at night, helps me sort through the chitter chatter of my mind, and decipher what is true and what are simply the things I am telling myself to keep me feeling "safe." There have been times that I think I can't do something, or that I'm uncertain about a situation, and just simply writing about it helps me gain a new perspective and peace of mind. I find out what I really want in life when I take the time to journal.

In choosing to live a bliss filled life, what sacrifices or choices have you had to make that have been particularly difficult? Are there sacrifices or choices coming up in the near future?

For most of my life, I have followed my heart. Maybe it doesn't happen overnight, but once I start to get the itch that this path that I am on does not serve me, I start making moves in a new direction. Sometimes, I can see clearly the trail I must travel. Other times, the landscape reveals itself by simply moving further from the place where I am. But because following my heart may require me to abandon certain expectations put on me, or challenge the way others see me and my life, or actually involve physical space, through the years, I have upset many people close to me. I have learned that in the path of following one's truth, not everyone will be happy with you. For me, I have had to sacrifice not being part of a nuclear family unit or a community of close-knit friends. That at times is difficult. But as I go further in my journey in life, I realize that the things I lose are only happening to provide space for the next things that will support me. If I get tied up in my own expectations of how things should be, I get knocked off my navigation, and stray from my path. It is becoming easier with time to accept the things I have had to sacrifice to stay true to myself, but I will not lie, I have not figured this one out completely, yet.

Describe your ideal, bliss-filled day?

A day that has 72 hours instead of 24---so I can keep doing all the things I do already, just have more time to do them in--and really savor the moments.

Do you have a daily spiritual practice that gives you the strength to live your own path?

Yoga is a part of my everyday spiritual practice. Even in times, like lately, when I do not find myself on the mat as much as my heart and body would like, I believe Yoga is always a part of me. I have learned so much about my own capabilities, strengths, weaknesses, and capacity to love through the practice of Yoga. Yoga has taught me again and again the importance of staying in the moment, even when it simply means being witness to all the craziness going on inside me.

How does your relationship to your body affect your bliss?

My body is so patient and forgiving of me lately. This summer, I had an incredible burst of creative energy take over my life and my self. Since then, things have had to even out a bit, and now, I realize how much hardship my body suffered in order for me to express and release so much creative energy. She is calling out to me--begging for more time just to be. Even though I was on a complete creative high for months, I don't feel it is honest to say I was truly living my bliss, by the fact that I neglected my body as so. I am now starting to attend to her again, to listen to her, and to thank her for her patience and understanding. Yes, my relationship to my body affects my bliss completely. When I fail to note that, to love my body for all that she provides me with, my journey is not as vibrant and lively as it could be.

Was there a specific moment (or moments) in your life when you decided to break out of the cage and fly free, as we like to say in the land of Wild Women?

I think this moment happens again and again for me. It's a natural part of discovering who I am and following my bliss in this life journey. There have been numerous times that I think a certain thing or way of being is what I want--is me following my dream-- only to arrive at a place later where that dream has become the cage that is keeping me from flying free. So in a way I wonder, is life flying from one cage to another or just the openness of the big blue sky?

What gives you a sense of your Wild Woman self? What helps you to become less tame? Take risks? Put your concept of self on the line and challenge your boundaries?

Believing in myself gives me that sense of wild woman!! The days that I know my heart is right, that I'm living my truth--that is when I feel my wildest of woman self. It's not always easy. But when I believe in myself and keep a sense of humor at the same time, I am able to take more risks and be less tame. If I know there is a chance I may fail, but I don't care if I do, that is when I am at my best to challenge my boundaries and push forward.

What is the Wildest Thing you have ever done? What Wild Thing would you like to do? What is your Wildest Wish?

Wild is a heavy word for me. When I was a teenager, I used to get in cars with strangers (usually hot young boys) and drive off to who knows where. There were many times I told my mother I was spending the weekend at someone's house, who told their mother they were spending the weekend at my house, and we would go out of town on fun adventures (oh how lucky to be a teenager before cell phones!!)! I had a fake id, piercing, tattoo, I drank, I smoked, I did drugs, I stayed out all night, I cut school, I had boyfriends way too old for me. I was in a sense "wild"...and this "wild" carried over into my 20's just in a different fashion.

But, it was somewhere around 27 years old, that I decided I didn't want to be wild anymore. Wild wasn't working for me. It was killing my body, and making life difficult when it didn't need to be. So I left my wild ways behind, and started looking for new ways to be. To me, now, wild is an hour and a half of power yoga, is drinking margaritas on a work night, is painting funky trees, is believing so fiercely in my dreams.

What advice would you give to women who are still trapped by fear and expectation and feelings of obligation? How would you advise that they set their Blissfully Wild selves free?

Celebrate the little victories, and keep them close to you. Soon they will add up, and your life will start to take new form.

Earlier this year, I had a burning desire to begin running. I've never been a runner in my life. But something kept telling me this is what I need to do. So little by little, I began to run. First, I could only run a minute before needing to stop--and that was so huge to me! Then it was three minutes, five, ten, twenty, thirty. Each day, I could run just a little bit further--and each day, at the end of my run I would throw my arms up Rocky Balboa style and celebrate.

Make small moves to live your wildest dreams. Maybe if your heart is calling you to be a painter, you begin by buying the paints--leave the store and celebrate. A week later, you open the package and feel them, look at them--celebrate. Days later, you run your brush through them for the first time---celebrate. In time, you will be that painter--celebrate.

Thanks, Connie.

And remember, Connie will be facilitating the art journaling part of our workshop!