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desire, need and success
This week, with a friend, I've been discussing desire and need. Somewhere in the middle of the discussion I came up with the following list of "things I need to be happy":
1. meaningful personal projects (usually art-making) and the time / solitude to pursue them
2. meaningful collaborative projects (art-making, event planning, political projects)
3. meaningful employment
4. good sex
5. play (games or otherwise)
6. art / exposure to art (music, literature, movies)
7. good conversations about 1-6
8. good food
9. regular rest
10. physical / emotional health
Bonus: ritual
Before making my list, I tried to recall a similar list that I found in Pat Hartman's zine Salon about eight years ago. The list moved me at the time, and I copied it into my journal and reproduced it in the diary-zine I was doing. Ever since, It's operated quietly in the background, informing the way I think about success. I couldn't remember the exact list, just the tenor of it, but today I dug the old diary out and found it:
"At one point in my twenties I sat down to take stock. There were eight things I liked to do, and as long as I could do them, and even if I never did anything else but the eight things, I would be happy and my life would be successful. My chances of success were enhanced by the fact that many of the eight things could be done alone, and most could be done without money. The eight things were: read, write, think, hear music, converse with friends, do art, get stoned, and make love. This definition of success has remained true and achievable for many years."
—Anne Alexander
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Sunday, February 01, 2004
10:14 AM
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