Make 10: Look in the mirror

May 11, 2009 in Make 10

"My face is a gift, because my shadow side is on the outside, where I have had to deal with it. Paradoxically, I have been made whole through (and with) what originally seemed to be my flaws." –David Roche

As I have traveled around the country reading from Life is a Verb, the overwhelming majority of questions I get have to do with finding the time to write, how I find the quiet to write with kids in the house, a full-time job, and the messy business of dinners to cook. "I write in a pristine white room filled only with sunlight and joy and the scent of lavender," I would answer. "The children remain very still whilst I opine." And then I would laugh and laugh and laugh at the very thought of it. I actually write in the family room on my laptop while Spongebob Squarepants sings to me, Tess jumps up and down on the other end of the couch, Mr Brilliant lectures about the history of the telescope, Emma asks about buying an old school bus so she and her friends can drive to Mexico after graduation next year, and the dog licks himself inappropriately.

My real answer? "Just 10 minutes a day," I found myself saying. "Go into the bathroom if you have to, lock the door, and stay there for just 10 minutes a day." When Emma was little, she thought I had a chronic intestinal problem, I was in the bathroom so often.

It occurs to me that much can be done in just ten minutes a day. At our recent Life is a Verb retreat, we did a ten-minute exercise, "Long Walk to China," that underscored for me the vast enormities of what can happen in just ten minutes. Vast universes can be uncovered. We can be rained on by cherry blossoms in 10 minutes. We can still ourselves in 10 minutes. We can chisel Michelle Obama arm muscles in 10 minutes. A lot of living can happen in 10 minutes.

And so, I invite you to make just 10 minutes a day. ("Make" implies action on your part, my friend). My first "Make 10" is a reflection on what beauty is by David Roche, a performer I first saw at a Very Special Arts event at the White House years ago. A compelling, funny, poignant, amazing performance. Sit with your cup of Coconut Chai tea or that happy Grande Soy Radical Free Trade Organic Latte and listen and look. Just for ten minutes, reflect on your first glance, and your second. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Absolute amazing beauty? Yes, yes.

Make 10. No one else is going to do it for you.

'the second glance' from Nic Askew on Vimeo.

My thanks to Bluegirl Inaredstate who pointed me to this video.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

10 comments to " Make 10: Look in the mirror "


Gwyn

May 11, 2009 AT 12:39PM

Thank you for the David Roche bit. As a reasonably attractive woman, struggling to remember that my newly thinning and puckered, post menopausal skin does not define me, his wisdom is all too apt. As is your reminder that time does not have to defeat us!!!

angela

May 11, 2009 AT 1:03PM

I laughed too at the dog, the kids…cause my little one screams only when I sit at the computer to write. It is amazing how much creative time can be made if we really want to. I’ve spent years trying not to write b/c I wouldn’t communicate if I did. Now I’m finding a middle ground.

Amazing interview. My dd was saying “creeayon” the whole time, but I still get it. Wish the whole world would see it and LISTEN.

Carolynn

May 11, 2009 AT 3:38PM

Excellent advice!

Janet Smith

May 11, 2009 AT 5:32PM

A lovely video – thank you so much for sharing it.

Acausal Connection

May 11, 2009 AT 11:34PM

I have always tried very hard not to “judge books by their covers.” Perhaps my biggest regret is that I often don’t grasp someone’s true impact on my life until it is too late to sufficiently acknowledge it.

Lisa Gates

May 12, 2009 AT 2:04AM

Patti, I have 10 minutes. I have multiple 10 minutes. You are a peach of a human.

Deb G

May 12, 2009 AT 8:45AM

Had to smile. My 30 minutes of organizing for 37 days turned into 10 minutes every weekday and 30+ on the weekends. Learning to be realistic. :)

Becky

May 12, 2009 AT 2:45PM

When Emma was little, she thought I had a chronic intestinal problem, I was in the bathroom so often.

LOVE THIS. Sorry, had to laugh outloud.

terri

May 12, 2009 AT 4:20PM

Somehow I am taking this challenge!

jylene

May 13, 2009 AT 5:27PM

wow… i have never heard of this man. what a beautiful film.

what i love about reading this blog is that you always share things with me that i would never find on my own. you make me think, and you make me so glad to know you.

you look at the world in a way that i can relate to. in a way that so many people i know never consider. reading your words makes me happy and makes me feel connected to the world in a new way.

thank you, patti, for the work you are doing and thank you for sharing it with all of us. i am grateful for the knowledge that you impart. and i’m in awe of all you do. XOXO