Chloe: Critic Girl/Renaissance Woman

So, having run astray from my original motivation on this here blog, I am back with the next step of Michael Gelb’s foray into Leo’s expertise.

Dimostrazione. In essence, this is the art of challenging views - both those of others and one’s own. I have a lot to get through here, and it’s definitely the most vulnerable. Also, the least interesting, since the next section “Sensazione” deals with the pleasures of the senses and may be the section upon which I hang this blog’s hat.

But, to get me going and to ensure that I plow through this project that I signed myself up for - here is the Dimostrazione self-assemessment with my comments.

1. I am willing to acknowledge my mistakes. - C: To a fault.

2. My closest friends would agree that I am willing to acknowledge my mistakes. - C: Some would. I know my loving SO gets infuriated when I acknowledge my faults clearly and succinctly. It takes the edge off.

3. I learn from my mistakes and rarely make the same mistakes twice. - C: This is a difficult one. I’ve learned some difficult people mistakes, but I find it harder to learn from my mistakes where only I am concerned (my work habits, lifestyle habits, etc.).

4. I question “conventional wisdom” and authority. - C: again, to a fault.

5. When a celebrity I admire endorses a product, I am more likely to buy it. - C: I’d like to say no. But my love of acupuncuture was affirmed by Kristin Davis and I immediately revisited (though again rejected) the Fat Flush Plan when Jennifer Garner (repeatedly) endorsed it in Self Magazine.

6. I can articulate my most fundamental beliefs and the reasons I hold them. - C: My beliefs are solid. Why do I hold them? I do struggle because I find a lot of my arguments based in emotion. Desperately difficult for a law student. But this I am working on. So I’m halfway there, Leo.

7. I have changed a deeply held belief because of practical experience. - C: I can’t think of one, but this is very “me”. I am much more “qualitative” than “quantitative” and take personal experience seriously.

8. I perserve in the face of obstacles - C: again - one I work on.

9. I view adversity as an opportunity for growth. - C: absolutely.

10. I am sometimes susceptible to superstition. - C: yes. I have to discover how this fits in, but I am supersitious, or at least willing to go along with old fashion superstitions.

11. In considering gnew idea, my friends would say I am…(out of three choices) - this is hard to decide. I would say that they think that I am “gullible and “New-Agey” because I am interested in seeking out old world knowledge and fringe “technologies” particularly in regards to health and wellness. On the other hand, I think my friends would say that I am an “open-minded skeptic” without my input. (The final choice is “closed-minded cynic”).

How about you?

tags: Leonardo da Vinci, dimostrazione, beliefs

Polyglot
1. A person having a speaking, reading, or writing knowledge of several languages.
2. A book, especially a Bible, containing several versions of the same text in different languages.
3. A mixture or confusion of languages.

Despite my genuine interest in learning Spanish, I’ve decided to put that off for a while and to listen to my instincts. I am much more advanced in my French abilities and often seek out French websites, radio stations, etc. I also found an NYU Continuing and Professional Studies Certificate Program for translation of legal documents from French to English. Of course, there is also a course for Spanish to English, and that will be useful for another day.

And so, to prevent the risk of dilletantism taking over my pursuits of genius, I am going to take some French conversation and/or general French classes this summer at the Alliance Francaise here in NYC. Hopefully, after a summer brush-up, I will be able to get into the Translation certificate program.

Once I’ve mastered one language, then I will return to my lingual dilletantism and work on my Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and German. Not necessarily in that order

After a brief hiatus, I have returned in full force. (Nothing like impending exams to make a girl get on her blog horse)

My project now is to work on building my own lexicon. I’ve done this in a number of different ways throughout my life: underlining every other word in Jane Eyre as a fourth grader in over my head, keeping a running list of words I come across in my notebook, etc.

I do love words and I love to use them in creative ways. There are so many great words out there that hardly ever get used (nefarious, exuberant, and so on) and so many words that just get used and used and never thought about (awesome, irrespective, etc.) - so here, I will keep a running list of words I come across and want to look up, or words I like the sound of or should be used more often.

Today’s word is watershed. I have the Indigo Girls to thank for my interest in this word and it seemed appropriate for the occasion. It’s been written in my little notebook for weeks and it is finally making its debut.

Watershed: …3) A critical point that marks a division of change of course; a turning point…

Up on the watershed, standing at the fork in the road
you can stand there and agonize
’til your agony is your heaviest load.
You’ll never fly as high as the crow flies, get used to the country mile
When you’re learning to face the path at your pace,
Every choice is worth your while.

- Indigo Girls, “Watershed”

1) When am I most naturally myself?
2) What is one thing I could stop doing, or start doing, or do differently, starting today that would most improve the quality of my life?
3) What is my greatest talent?
4) How can I get paid for doing what I love?
5) Who are my most inspiring role models?
6) How can I best be of service to others?
7) What is my heart’s deepest desire?
8) How am I perceived by those around me?
9) What are the blessings of my life?
10) What legacy would I like to leave?

These are questions provided by the author as some of the most common power questions. I think they do cut to the chase of the existential questions and to taking care of yourself and others. I would love to be able to just have the answers mailed neatly to me from some mystical source, although the process of attacking these questions is probably just as interesting and helpful as the actual answers themselves.

I think I will try to think about these questions and answer them at least in free flow in the next few weeks. At least as long as I can find them on my previous posts!

1. What are my basic values?
2. If I had to pick just one dream career, what would it be?
3. How do I keep myself motivated in face of all of my obligations?
4. Can I live in keeping with my broader social values?
5. What is my mental block against [insert healthy lifestyle choice here]?
6. Will there ever be no more movies to watch?
7. What is my true style?
8. Why is it so hard to pick a favorite activity or top priority? (better yet: what are mine?)
9. What will be my cause celebre for my life’s work?
10. Will I ever be done?

1. Do I really want people to read this blog?
2. Why is my chest all congested?
3. Should I go check out the acupuncture place up the street?
4. How can I get my apartment in order?
5. Is there really room in my apartment for another person to live here?
6. Is there really room in my life for another person to live here?
7. Will I ever get a good night’s sleep in this apartment?
8. Why do I constantly start projects and leave them hanging?
9. Am I defeating the purpose by doing this on the computer?
10. Am I having second thoughts about even being able to complete this?
11. How do I find more spontaneity in my life?
12. How do I include more creativity?
13. How much sleep is enough?
14. Why do birds fly south for the winter?
15. Why don’t other animals?
16. Why didn’t I realize that a lot of animals migrate?
17. How can I satisfy my love of fashion and be frugal?
18. Will I be able to retire by the time I’m 40?
19. Will I ever buy those lovely Rebecca Taylor sandals I saw in a magazine?
20. Will I ever actually take my drawing and design classes?
21. Will I get my act together this semester?
22. How can I keep myself motivated to do all of the things that I want to do in my life?
23. What is my mental block against exercising?
24. Will there come a day when there are no more movies left to watch?
25. Could I really live an austere life?
26. What are my basic values?
27. Do I square away my values with my interests?
28. Can they be different?
29. If I had to pick just one of my dream careers, which would it be?
30. Should I answer these questions some day?
31. Could I be a vegetarian?
32. Could I give up chocolate?
33. Why don’t I have a better plan for my time?
34. If I skipped a question would anyone notice?
35. Is frugal living better for one’s happiness?
36. Could I really manage a dog?
37. Could I really manage children?
38. How many children do I want?
39. Can I live my life in accordance with my broader social values and my love for the earth?
40. Will I wake up one day and see all of the damage we have caused to the earth?
41. Will I ever live on the water?
42. What is it about water that makes me feel so happy and calm?
43. What is it about wind that makes me feel engulfed?
44. What is my true style?
45. Will my new computer ever get here?
46. Will I ever get to live in France?
47. In San Francisco?
48. Is there anywhere else that I would really like to live?
49. What are the millions and millions of people in the city doing right now?
50. How do artists get their inspiration?
51. How do they keep their motivation?
52. Why is long-term commitment to projects so difficult?
53. Why is it so hard to pick a favorite activity or a first priority?
54. What will be my cause celebre for my life’s work?
55. Do I have to pick just one?
56. Could I become a food critic in my spare time?
57. Who would listen to any opinion that I would have?
58. Why is there so much bad food in the world that people actually pay good money for?
59. Why isn’t there a better BBQ place in my neighborhood?
60. Why isn’t Indian food easier to replicate in my home kitchen?
61. When will my boyfriend ever get here?
62. Will I like living with another human being?
63. Would I like to have fish?
64. Or birds?
65. Could I pull it off at Pratt?
66. Or Parsons?
67. Will I actually try kayaking this year?
68. Or horseback riding?
69. What is the new Sex and The City, really?
70. Do I have an addictive personality?
71. Or obsessive compulsive?
72. Or anal retentive, for that matter?
73. Do I have to pick just one?
74. Would I do best working from home?
75. Do I need to get out more?
76. How do I commit myself more to the issues I care about when I am exhausted and barely able to keep up with my academic obligations?
77. Will I be able to continue this blog?
78. Will I be able to become a fashion designer?
79. Why do the neighbors run up and down the stairs and drive me insane all day?
80. Why do I listen to everything that is going on around me including the conversation I’m actually engaged in?
81. Can a person be too introspective?
82. Or too open about their faults?
83. Or totally blind despite that apparent openness?
84. Will I ever solve my financial woes?
85. Will the credit card debt dissolve?
86. Will I ever own a pair of Christian Louboutins?
87. Will I ever not care who designed the shoes I wear?
88. Can a person really truly be happy?
89. Is asceticism required for letting go?
90. What does one say to a psychoanalyst?
91. Why is healthcare so expensive?
92. Why don’t I know an acupuncturist so that I could be treated for free?
93. Why can’t I stop eating the foods that I know are bad for my skin?
94. Will I ever have clear skin again?
95. Why don’t macrobiotics eat fruit?
96. Why does organized religion make things so complicated?
97. What are my real spiritual beliefs?
98. Can one not practice anything and still be part of the spiritual world?
99. How can I replicate the feeling of being on a mountain top while in New York City?
100. Will I ever be done?

Sipping a glass of pomegranate cider in my skivs; nibbling on a bit of organic milk chocolate truffle in the afternoon. Sheer delight. And a lovely entree into the latest project for this space of mine.

I have made several attempts to start following the “How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci” program (by Michael Gelb) which actually codifies a lot of what I find worthy in life. I find myself constantly amazed at the world around me, thinking of what a certain pattern of moving cars would look like from above, or how a child would perceive some newfangled creation, or what I felt the first time I saw a sunset, cat, homeless person, etc.

One shouldn’t need a book, let alone an entire step by step program, to rekindle fascination with the world, appreciation of sensual and sensuous pleasures, and intellectual curiousity. But, I am a self-proclaimed self-help addict with undertones of anal retentiveness. I use plans and schedules like a parapalegic uses her wheelchair. They are my main source of mobility, and frankly, I feel stranded without them. (Another quality I’m perpetually trying to rid myself of in a positive fashion).

And so, today, a day without new Netflix treats, I will begin to transcribe my developments here, in addition to my film chatter and in and out food and wine chatter as well.

I have to learn how to archive by topic, since I also want to include some simple living chatter as well and it would be nice to be able to organize (for myself) these missives. I’m sure it’s just a google or a ‘help’ click away.