Alive

What makes me come alive? What does "coming alive" entail? That has been a common theme in my life lately. People all around me are being inspired to reflect on their loves and passions and act on them. I think that when something makes you come alive, you recognize a part of yourself in it. You are drawn to it and filled when you experience it. I've been told that when you focus on these things and make a conscious effort to incorporate them into your daily experience, you lead a much more fulfilled life.

Here are some of mine:

• Backing words with actions
• Making someone’s day
• Learning and researching
• Handwritten letters
• Worship
• Walking barefoot
• Perfect weather – on the cool side
• Making things for people
• Learning schedules, patterns, formulas, recipes and systems
• Breaking them
• Finding a better way to do things
• Working with my hands
• Hearing people’s stories
• Good food
• Bookstores and libraries
• Clean paper and ink pens
• The woods
• Competition
• Creating
• Unconditional love
• Singing
• Strong instrumental crescendos
• Color
• Feeling loved and appreciated
  
• Hard work and seeing the rewards
• Bursts of creative energy
• Long talks
• Making healthy choices
• Kids
• Good journalism
• Intelligence
• Admitting I’m flawed
• Interesting artwork
• The intricacy and strength of the human body
  
• Seeing passion in others
• Taking care of people
• Books and their smell
• Cold, fluffy sheets
• Taking things apart and putting them back together
• Epiphanies
• People who are individual
• Rocks and stone
• Applicable worship songs and Bible verses