I spent about an hour and a half talking to Naomi this weekend. About the usual stuff… you know, stuff we’re working on, stuff we’re thinking about, how my duck is a whore.
About how much it sucks that we’re so far away from each other, and how great it will be when we trounce Pam Slim in the world’s sexiest pillow fight at the slumber party that is going to be us at SXSW. Then we’re going after Colleen and Sonia. At least I hope we are. I’ve never actually met Naomi. She might be a spindly little troll.
For now, though, that’s the plan!
But back to the mission:
But mostly we really talk about changing the world. About our mission.
About our own personal stucknesses (especially the blessing-curse of being a softhearted, highly sensitive, prone-to-tears Pisces) that sometimes get in the way of our mission.
And about the stucknesses that get in the way of our Right People doing the thing they so desperately want to do. Because it’s their mission. Their thing.
It’s cool because there aren’t that many people I know who really, truly get what I think of as my purpose. What it means. Naomi gets it — because she shares it.
I wish there were a less cheesy way to talk about things like this, but there you have it.
All this waxing philosophical makes me thirsty.
Anyway, all this deep talk about Meaning and Life Work and stuff got us all verklempt (or “pertinent”, if you’re my voice-to-text software).
Or drunk, if you’re Naomi.
Because I’m a sensitive mouse. I can get all emotional about my work and how important it is to me. It isn’t pretty.
And even though Naomi wouldn’t admit publicly to being a sensitive mouse, whatever. She’s a sensitive mouse of a delicate flower wrapped in a petunia and swaddled in moonbeams. We all know the truth.
So at this point we were deep into the dark existential crisis of confronting our purpose and stuff. And then we remembered that oh, right, this is just standard pre-birthday angst.
Oh. Right. That.
Yeah. So my birthday is next Saturday (the 7th) and Naomi’s is the day after that (the 8th). Which means: of course it’s feeling-emotional-about-life-and-purpose time. Again.
We calmed the hell down. Felt much better.
Well, after some more angsty hair-tearing about what it means to be getting older. Which is hilarious, because Naomi’s still practically a teenager and also doesn’t have any hair.
What we want for our birthday.
Actually, what we want for our birthday is what we want all the time.
To know that we’re doing everything we can to help our people — our Right People — feel safe, supported and loved.
To work through more of our own crap so that we can get better at feeling safe, supported and loved.
And help our people do it too.
So they can do the thing. And feel good about doing it. And help their Right People.
Yes, we’re gooey romantic idealists.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like we don’t like fansocks. Because we do. A lot.
It’s just that we’re also we take what we do (and what it means to us) really, really seriously. Uh, in a fun way! Like, the way religious zealots have fun. If they have fun. Never mind.
This is what we’re doing for our birthday.
We put together a special class to teach. About the biggest stuckness out there right now — this whole recession thing.
Our take on it, our advice, our “this is what I would do if I were you” ranting and the absolute best stuff we’ve got.
Because right now this is it. This is the stuckness we’re seeing the people we care about struggle with. And seeing people stuckified — especially when it’s the people we worry about the most — depresses the hell out of us. Because it’s awful and hard. And often unnecessary.
So yeah, we’re celebrating our birthdays by teaching what we know and what we believe in. I already mentioned the zealot thing, right?
Details if you want them.
This is not on the actual day, of course. I’ll be spending the Havi-and-Naomi birthday weekend in retreat. Meditation. Yoga. More meditation. And Naomi will be in a bathtub of gin or something. I don’t know. Ask her!
The point is, we’re doing this thing on Wednesday, March 4th instead. Though really, we’ll be giving everyone who registers for the class a copy of the recording.
So you could listen on our birthday weekend if you’re an obsessive stalker. Or the week after that if you’re just a regular person. Or whenever.
We made a little page about it over at HaviandNaomi.com.*
* Warning: it is kind of curse-ey. Naomi has to warn her people that I’m a total hippie, so it’s only fair that I warn you: curse-ey. There.
If you’re joining us … yay! Because knowing that you’re taking steps to destuckify with us is totally better than fansocks.
And even if you can’t, that’s cool too. Because knowing that you’re around and that you’re part of this work we’re doing is already a big deal. I mean that.
Warning: about to get mushy.
A tiny declaration of love.
It’s kind of crazy, but my work and my writing and my “hi, I’m documenting and modeling my working-on-my-stuff process even when it gets messy” thing has allowed me to meet the best people ever.
Naomi, for one.
Also, people who love my duck or at least don’t think I’m cuckoo for having one. People who get excited about the possibility of having a conscious, intentional, non-cheesy relationship with themselves and their stuff.
People like you.
So really, this is already a pretty sweet birthday and an amazing year.
Actually, I have all these other incredibly mushy things I want to say but this whole post is already a turning into the world’s most embarrassing confession. So I’ll stop right here!
And just say that I’m really freaking happy that we’re in this thing together.
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You three so need a comic book series: The World-Changing Adventures of Shivanaut, WhoreDuck & Spindly Little Troll! (Although Naomi does not strike me as spindly or troll-like…) There will be an advance notice list when you launch the line of action figures, yes?
Heading to the recession-ass-kicking site. Love you guys!
I love this post. I love who you both are, what you both do, how you both do it and how, for me – a scared, excited mouse amidst crazy big changes – you’ve totally, completely changed my life. For the better. For real. You both deserve the best birthdays ever.
(And sign me up for the action figures as well. I would wear them in holsters on either side of my hips, and bring them out like magical super heroes to fight stuck and ick wherever they’re found, and to make biggification happen in a HHHUUUGGGEEE way.
And I’d also make them cuss and meditate a lot too.
It would be the coolest if each figure came with all sorts of personally appropriate accessories – yoga mats, little bottles of gin, headsets for the voice recognition thingy, red shoes and, of course, Selma.
These would seriously be cooler than ninjas. And Star Wars figures. And the love children of ninjas and Star Wars figures.)
You two rock. And I can’t thank you both enough. And a big YAY! about the class.
I’m wondering how Selma feels about this whole Havi-and-Naomi thing. I mean, other than mentioning Naomi thinks Selma is a whore, Selma really didn’t come up in this and she might feel a little abandoned?
I know you didn’t intend that, being all sensitive-Pisces and all.
Terry Heaths last blog post..Three Ways to Make Your Inner Critic Neurotic
@Fabeku – you are exactly the sort of nutty person that I’m talking about. I could not be happier that I’ve met you and got to be a part of the goofy, wonderful things you do.
@Liz – Ohmygod, love the comic book idea. And now you’ve set Fabeku off into action figure territory. Don’t tell Naomi because she’ll actually do it.
@Terry – I was hoping no one would notice! Between not wanting to give Naomi more “duck whore” ammunition and her people all already thinking I’m crazy, it seemed better to give her a low profile.
But yeah, she’s totally flouncing around in diva mode, giving me that one look. Sigh. I’ll take her for a walk today and we’ll make up. Maybe she’ll even agree to be on the call. 🙂
HELL YEAH I’ll do it. The gin? And the shoes? And the little shirt that says Filthy Marketing Whore? We can get little Chinese medicine tinctures for the Havinator!
I am about to go find out how to make action figures, and I’m going to call that activity “work”. And then I’m going to call all my relatives and brag.
Naomi Dunfords last blog post..Things, Chains, and Changing the Fucking World
Yaay, and happy, happy birthday, Havi and Naomi! I’ve just signed up for the Thing next Wednesday.
Love to you both,
Hiro
Hiro Bogas last blog post..Creative Connection: Where’s Your Muse When the Baby’s Spitting Up at 3 am?
Happy Birthday to youse two, and to my little two year old on the 2nd. She’s a pisces too. Luckily I’m a scorpio so I understand, although I look a lot tougher (it’s all an act.)
I get you. I’m on the journey too, although I don’t think I can do the class, I’m with you.
rowenas last blog post..Flying Girl Feels the Stirrings, or Spring Always (Yes) Comes
More Pisces! We will rule the world. But no one will notice because we’ll be all cool and empathetic and flaky about it.
Happy birthday and thanks for doing this class! Love the Havi & Naomi show so much.
Sonia Simones last blog post..What’s Going On?
Sounds fabulous!
And you share a birthday with my Mom. How cool.
Here is to gin, yoga, pillow fights and birthdays. Minus the gin for me, since I don’t drink.
And saying “economy, you don’t scare me!”
xox,
-P
Pamela Slims last blog post..Take back the economy
Dearest , Sweetest Havi,
Happy, happy birthday …… I am so glad and so GRATEFUL that you were born. Both you and Naomi are pretty gosh darned awesome and it is just sooooooo like a Pisces to give OTHER PEOPLE things on their birthdays!!! But that is why we love you so!
And you both really ARE changing the world. One “Right Person” at a time. I’m just happy to be one of those people and to get a chance to bask in all that crazy, wonderful, wacky Pisces brilliance.
Hugs and love,
Chris
chris zydels last blog post..SECRET # 7: FINDING CREATIVE GUIDES and CREATIVE GUIDANCE
I don’t think it’s cuckoo that you have a duck.
Au contraire, I think it’s just ducky.
And happy birthday to two fellow Pisceseans.
Grace Judsons last blog post..What are you putting off?
Selma is not a whore. She’s a people-loving duck.
Happy birthday to both you and Naomi. Sounds like you’ll have a lot of great info on your call. Can’t wait to hear all of it!
Sue
Sues last blog post..Step 1 – Better Business Decisions aka Fixing My Mistakes
I think this is just a great thing that you guys are doing!
I need a duck, but I am more drawn to cats… so my “duck” type destuckifier is likely to be more feline in nature…
Pams last blog post..Is it me?
Well no wonder I love both you AND Naomi – you wonderful Pisces, you.
No, I’m not a Pisces, but I did marry one.
Happy birthday to you both and I CAN’T WAIT for this class.
When you talk about your mission and purpose and all that? It totally inspires me. I’m just so glad you are in the world doing your thing.
Oh, and be sure to send me the link to your action figure pre-order page when it’s available. Seriously.
Happy early birthday(s), you Piscean whackjobs doing your weepy, Piscean-whackjob thang. This is just the ticket, and I applaud you both.
I am thinking the action figures should come with matching, Selma-sized pillow accessories for tiny, whore-duck-sized pillow fights.
In any event, I am for you, and for gin, etc., provided the gin is Tito’s vodka (local, dontcha know!) and we give Pam the camera.
Virgos love being bossy!
the communicatrixs last blog post..Countdown to SXSWi: 2 weeks out, heeeeere we go!
p.s. This actually is the most perfect thing I’ve ever read about Naomi: “She’s a sensitive mouse of a delicate flower wrapped in a petunia and swaddled in moonbeams.”
Sonia Simones last blog post..What’s Going On?
@ Sonia — Screw you. You, like Richard, are GOING DOWN in the Pillow Fight Of Death.
Naomi Dunfords last blog post..Things, Chains, and Changing the Fucking World