It doesn't interest me what you do for a living,
I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are,
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by it's betrayals or,
have become shriveled and closed from fear of further anguish.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, and endure it,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy and not fear it,
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes, free of admonitions to be careful,
realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself,
if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can see beauty
even when it's not pretty everyday,
and replenish your life from God's presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure,
and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver
of the moon, "Yes!"
It doesn't interest me to know where you live
Or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone, and do what
needs to be done for the children.
It doesn't interest me who you are, or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire
with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied,
or how many degrees you have.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder
I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are,
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by it's betrayals or,
have become shriveled and closed from fear of further anguish.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, and endure it,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy and not fear it,
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes, free of admonitions to be careful,
realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself,
if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can see beauty
even when it's not pretty everyday,
and replenish your life from God's presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure,
and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver
of the moon, "Yes!"
It doesn't interest me to know where you live
Or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone, and do what
needs to be done for the children.
It doesn't interest me who you are, or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire
with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied,
or how many degrees you have.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder
