Life Lesson: Alternate lives we might lead
In 2022, one of the questions that I've asked most when hosting team building sessions was...
“"If you had 4 other lives to lead, what would you do in each of them?" *
I had groups share answers in the chat box simultaneously. Other virtual facilitators recognize this as a "chatterfall."
It was great! The answers were diverse, inspiring, insightful, sometimes hilarious.
A few of my favs: highly paid puppy swim instructor (!), champagne vintner, nail polish namer, host of weekend update on SNL, person of leisure ...
*Some* people said, "exactly what I'm doing now!" But they were in the minority.
That's why I loved inviting people to embrace possibility, passion and purpose with this question.
But after a few hundred people answered this question, I wondered - Is my purpose for asking this question coming across? Are people enjoying thinking of what they love most, while they sit at their day job? Or are people ruminating on these passions (and paths perhaps not traveled) and feeling a sense of regret instead. I wasn't sure.
So I started to add follow up context.
After people shared their "4 alternate lives," I asked a rhetorical question -
How might you weave a little bit of the magic of this alternate life into your day to day, now?
The non-verbals in the Zoom room showed this Q had the desired effect.
***
This insight returned to me last week while I listened to the LinkedIn podcast In the Arena, hosted by Leah Smart. In the first 30 seconds of her interview with Sussanah and Nathan Furr, Sussanah shares a French expression, "Fait sur mesure" which essentially translates to "custom" in English. Sussanah says, "so many people don't realize that they can have a custom...life. That they don't have to follow anyone else's rules."
Woah. Sussanah, you had me at hello.
Yes, we can have a life that is fait sur mesure. From weaving small bits of alternate lives into our days to making big leaps, I agree that you can design your life.
You can have a custom life. One made just for you.
***
So back to my question about alternative lives. If you're curious, one of mine would naturalist on a whale watching boat.
(Stay tuned for this chapter, which I fully intend to write.)
Until then, I'll be continuing to lead conversations that harness moments of opportunity and offer the same kind of thrill that spotting a whale's tail at just the right moment does....every time.
*This question about alternate lives was inspired by the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.