“She’d been so sure a crap liquor store would not stock French cigarettes just because you asked. The shock every time she went in, and there they were. She was used to taking the world as it was, she’d never have guessed you could get what you wanted by asking for it.”
~from Paint It Black by Janet Fitch
I was struck by these few sentences and the idea has stayed in my head since I finished this book (which I loved, by the way) And I’ve wondered: What do I want to ask for? What should I be asking for? It feels powerful and vulnerable at the very same time to think of this. To imagine asking, putting myself out there, saying this is what I need.
Today I would ask for:
An agent to represent my book.
Funding to be able to write and live. Financial abundance would be swell,but just enough would be okay too–to live and write, rinse and repeat.
A sponsor, or sponsors.
To not feel like I’m always the trailblazer. Some days I want so badly for someone else to say: here, let me show you how to do this so you won’t mess it all up.
(And also maybe for some sun. The humidity is getting on my nerves.)
What would you ask for? Really. If you could ask for anything–or many things, what would they be?
The motivation to get this damn weight off once and FOR ALL.
i would ask for my children to NOT be sick while away from me right now…sinus infections for both as I type this…
I would ask that I continue to be okay on my own while my hubby works the next year in a different state…
and I would ask for patience for all the things that will thrown my way in the next 12 months…
I would ask for this next operation to WORK.
I feel a strong urge to be a trailblazer, and often feel like there ought to be a how-to guide written by someone else. But, I guess without trailblazers, where would we be?
a second child, my salary reinstated to the December 2008 level, and a sensitive man who can mow my lawn and fix my car and talk about football and hike in the woods with me without any relationship pressure–it would be nice if he liked to read too.
Wow, wonderful. I would ask for financial security and a home so we could start a family. A Ph.D program in Art Therapy and the money to complete it. A gallery to want my artwork, an agent for my illustrations/art. Help writing a memoir of sorts. The opportunity and money to start my own non-profit. The time to make art. Oh and I love the idea of rinse and repeat!!!!
Thanks for sharing this!
hugs.
Oooh! Good question!
I would ask for my student loan debt to disappear, and to stop working. Or at least stop working so much.
I would ask for the ability to possess more trust than terror at the prospect of having a child.
And on a small scale, I would ask for a full night of uninterrupted sleep and a little help finishing the house remodel. Possibly a nice pot of earl grey tea with milk, too.
A job closer to home with shorter hours but the same money, giving me more time for me-stuff.
tea
hmmm anything at all?
to lose 20lbs without trying.
to have my family closer and not 9 hours away.
to do my photography again with passion.
that’s it. pretty simple>!
tara
To not be sucked dry from my dreadful job.
To work for someone who is genuine and honest.
To live in the country.
That’s a big question! I would ask for enough money to not always worry about money, a happy marriage again, to lose the weight that I’m sure is sticking to me until I solve the real issues, to have passion in my life again (see happy marriage–which it is very much not…which seems to be killing my life), and the circumstances to pursue my artistic wants (see enough money & marriage/life things again). Thanks–hope you have a happy day with your kiddos.
A trailblazer is a finder of paths, not necessarily a leader. If you wish to be lead, you must be willing to allow others to do what you want them to do
Today I wish for patience, confidence and the return of my Patsy Cline CD.
If I could ask for anything at all, I’d want:
More time to write.
A dining room.
The ability to teleport.
A place to go swimming outside that wasn’t completely crowded in the summer.
Endless space in my house for books.
- for people to pick up their dog’s poop from the sidewalk
- enough time for boredom, for writing, for reading in some other place besides the bus
- for our downstairs neighbors to not be so loud
- an available, reasonably priced place to stay this weekend
xo
Rain. Mississippi is as dry as a bone. I have no lawn to worry over, but I miss the atmosphere a big thunderstorm brings – I miss the smell of rain in the air.
Wisdom. I have a dear friend who is in the process of separating from her husband, the dreaded D-word is in the works. She has asked me to be her birth partner. I am thrilled and honored and also afraid that I won’t be able to hold my shit together in the high stress moments of her birth, which is sure to be emotional.
Willpower. To stick to this diet/lifestyle change. I feel so much better and know it’s necessary. This weekend we’re cheating a bit and that’s fine -I might be able to do this knowing that I have options. I am tired of feeling lumpy and squishy and unpretty.
Direction. To find our church home. To sit still and write what I know I’m capable of, if I would just do it already.
I’ve been pretty lucky in life. Like most, I have my complaints from time to time, but I feel that, at least this one time, I should leave the “asking for anything” to someone who really needs something. So…I’m throwing my turn out there for someone else to catch and use well. Enjoy!