Building a Better Bohemia?

I love how creative and talented and interesting my friends are. Maybe sometimes I take it for granted that the majority of the people in my life are creative souls, richly varied and with such a dazzling myriad of interests, strengths, and specialties. I will try never to take this amazing fact for granted. Working in the school has shown me that there are indeed plenty of people who are not nearly as fascinating, witty, intelligent, talented, creative, surprising, and wonderful like my close friends seem to be without the least effort.

I mean, one supposes that we gravitate toward the friends and mentors who will inspire us, challenge us, make us think, help us grow, and make us laugh deep belly laughs. Maybe so. And perhaps the careers we've explored puts us in the paths of people who clearly share similar interests to us. So maybe it is natural that all my dearest friends have artistic souls, comedic sparkle, a flair for drama, and are very often sexually liberated and open and accepting. Maybe. Or maybe I just weed out the ones who bore me, or drain the room of energy like a cipher, or can't seem to follow a conversation (or ever engage in one). Perhaps I have developed a knack for culling from my 'family' the ones who can't respect difference, choice, individuality, shades of gray, drama, and risquee, ribald sexual humor.

Who knows, really? What i do know is that I seem to have an incredibly low tolerance for boring and less-than-sharp people. It might well be a failing of mine that I ought to work on. Aaron would probably say so-- he is frequently lecturing me about my social awkwardness around people I don't care for (many, many people).

however, my friend Jeff simply adores this quality about me and insists it makes me quintessentially "Beth".

All i can say is that perhaps I'll work on embracing the boring folks, knowing that nobody is really boring, everyone has a story, there's drama squirreled away in every living souls (this is what I preach in the classroom, and what I tell myself as a writer); But in the meanwhile I want to say how grateful I am and blessed i feel to count among my close friends those who think and create and take risks and bush boundaries, those who live for laughter and good food and great conversation, those who can comment with personality and verve on everything from tv to telepathy, from lunar science to liquid latex, from booze to broads to berlin in the 40's.

Folks who are well traveled or well read, who cherish learning in all forms and who seek to grow and know more every single day. Incredible people who inspire me with their various approaches to problems, challenges, life, love, and lust!

Than you for being who you are. Thank the fates that i count among my good friends so many photographers, musicians, writers, singers, philosophers,creative thinkers, problemsolvers,Risk takers, artists of all varieties, so many teachers and students of life. I will make it my endeavor to learn more from you at every opportunity. Because you are all gifts, treasures, and blessings to be cherished and very, very grateful for.

Let none of us be content with the ones at the party who offer nothing. Because while i believe that every body has a unique voice and a complex soul and a fascinating story of who they are-- it's just no darn fun to have sullen sallies or better-than-everyone bobs at our social gatherings. Shy is onething. Even a measure of social anxiety (I myself have some struggles with this), but let's not tolerate those who refuse to break out of their restrictive cages, out of their confing shells and join in with the life and verve and energy that pulses and thrives and glows all around them.

And neither should we accept those who seek to make the party all about them. We all know these ego maniacs, these stand-up comedians who can't seem to give-and-take. who talk but don't listen. Who might give you a nod and smile while you speak to them but whose eyes are somewhat glazed over because they are actually just thinking about the next thing they want to say. These people are often just as much of a cipher, an energy-suck, a vibe-killer.

So let's celebrate life. Let's embrace bohemia. chances are, of course, if you are reading this blog you are already one hundred percent on board with this.

Toss the boring friends, or at least dust them off and see if you can, like a craft project, make them sparkle and shine by looking through the everyday and seeing the hidden potential for greatness (and then helping it to the forefront!) Let's bedazzle our buddies!  lolz.

Let's be bold and make choices and embrace.  Let's say 'boring' is a sin, and let's start feeding our souls at every opportunity.  Examine your life for anyone who tries to quell you or suppress the life and vitality and verve of who you are.  expell those toxic people as soon as humanly possible 9i realize some of these people are likely to be related to us, so, just manage what you can without causing some awful family feud).

Don't let yourself be clogged up by people who say 'no' too often.  Seek the ones who say not just 'yes' (nobody likes a 'yes' man), but yes, AND..."  People who will help you build your ideas, push your projects forward, stimulate and encourage and offer something of their own soul and imagination and talent.

These types of people are the cream of the fucking crop!!  Let's celebrate and salute them!

And lets have more parties, lol.

Maybe at my place? My trueblood halloween gathering was fun fun fun fun. but also small small small small. I tend to get all kinds of crazy if I host any big events. so maybe we'll build our bohemia slowly for the sake of my sanity!