Heal from the past

Emily Freeman lives uncaged + My birthday giveaway!

55 Comments 10 February 2012

This is a great day! Why? Because the illustrious Emily Freeman is here, and I like her excessively. And, it’s my birthday! Woot! I’m older than most of you reading this, most likely (and wiser? well, that’s to be determined). And I’m giving away another birdy uncaged necklace. Answer the question at the bottom of this post to be entered to win! I’ll pick a winner Wednesday of next week.

Emily Freeman rocks, and she’s super fun. And she wrote a terrific book, Grace for the Good Girl. which I endorsed And she is a great example of living uncaged to boot. Without further ado, here is Emily!

What would it look like for you to live uncaged in 2012?

I would look a lot less like a manager and a lot more like an artist.

What has prevented you from living a truly free and unencumbered life in the past?

I do this really weird and irrational thing where I imagine scenarios in my head – anything from terrible things happening to me or my family to simply sensing someone’s displeasure or dislike of me. And then I let the craziness rule the day. So instead of living free, I have rushed around trying to manage everyone’s opinion of me. It’s no way to live, let me tell you.

Give my readers advice. What’s one practical thing they can do this year to live uncaged? (This can be silly like dancing in the rain or serious like eat more chocolate.)

Be curious. Sometimes I let fear keep me from my questions. I think that’s a mistake.

Who in your life is an excellent example of living uncaged? Why?

My friend Annie Downs. She’s the bravest girl I know in real life. Why? Because she isn’t afraid to start things. She self-published a book. She moved to Scotland. She loves on teenagers. She wrote about being single at (in)courage even though it was the last thing in the world she wanted to write about. And she isn’t afraid to say no. People who know the balance of yes and no are always mentors to me.

If you could design a Live Uncaged sweatshirt, what would it look like?

Go to pinterest and search the word “graceful” Any of those images could be on the sweatshirt. You’re welcome.

Hooray! Thanks Emily for your sage advice. Now, here’s the final necklace I’m giving away from Barberry and Lace. Another free bird:

Simply answer this question to be entered. If you tweet about the birdie necklace (ha ha), you get another entry (just be sure to make another comment that you tweeted). Same with Facebook. Now here’s the question:

What would it look like in your life if you were less than a manager and more of an artist (to use Emily’s words)?

 

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  • http://continuedwonder.blogspot.com/ Rachmiller4011

    letting my kids help cook and create even tho it makes a big mess :)

  • Amy McI

    To REALLY let go! To not be afraid of life and the many things that weigh a soul down. To live  the way God really wants me to live and not what I precieve on how God wants me to live . To go an just create things and give things to others and just keep doing it every week vs. just once in awhile. I have been fighting with myself and just want to be really free and confident in Jesus everyday.

  • Ashley

    I’d stop trying to control every aspect of my life myself {major control freak here!} and start letting God truly take the reins…and make my life into whatever He wants it to be! 

  • http://annieathome.com Annie | annieathome.com

    Couldn’t tell if the giveaway was closed… Not to turn the question upside down, but I think embracing the artist and letting go of the manager might actually mean stepping forward in putting some structure to my creativity. I’m oozing art & need to figure out how to create rhythms in my life so I can embrace it whole-heartedly. Thanks for the giveaway – and Happy Birthday!

  • http://undergodsmightyhand.blogspot.com Caroline @UnderGod’sMightyHand

    I tweeted about this interview and giveaway (and birthday!) here: http://twitter.com/#!/Keep_Tha_Faith/statuses/168369262816264192

  • http://undergodsmightyhand.blogspot.com Caroline @UnderGod’sMightyHand

    Oh goodness, I imagine those crazy, fear-filled scenarios, too.

    More of an artist definitely would include LESS FEAR for me, too. And absolutely more trust and boldness. More living in the moment than dwelling on that past or worrying about the future. More gratitude and less frustration. 

    Great interview! Happy Birthday, Mary!! (And thanks for this kind opportunity!)

  • alyssa.bentham

    I Facebook’d and Tweeted, too.  Thanks for the giveaway!

  • Brenda Welc

    Free to be engaged in the things of God and signing autographs.

  • alyssa.bentham

    My life as an artist would be a continuously open hand, giving God the
    reigns to my life, and letting Him create the Me I was purposed to
    be. Letting go and letting God…that is the artist in me.

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    Shared on Facebook

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    Shared on Twitter

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    Happy birthday Mary! Great to see another friend with a February birthday.

    My life would be a lot crazier I think. It’s already disorganized but living more like an artist, I think, would cause me to do some crazy things.

  • http://www.joleneengle.org/ Jolene Engle

    Happy Birthday Mary!  We share the same day as well!

  • http://www.joleneengle.org/ Jolene Engle

    I’d embrace my brokenness; knowing that the fractured and shattered pieces of my vessel-self is when Christ, who is the Master Artist, shines through me the most.

  • Linda Chontos

    I would stop trying to control everyone and everything around me! It really doesn’t ever work very well.

  • Tara J Haussler

    Heart full, smiling, writing and creating and less script writing.  More time listening to others’ stories, and more time writing my own.  Less time worrying over outcomes…..living in the moment…..from moment to moment…..more cuddling on the couch with children and books and needles and thread and paints…..less time picking up….. ;)

  • Karen

    peaceful, harmonious, full of laughter and fun….

  • http://twitter.com/2b4recovery Pamela Barrett

    getting up first thing in the morning and writing till my hearts content ;-) no hurry up to get to work, no stacks of unfinished paper work to juggle…time to think, reflect and create ;-)

  • Trezlen

    I would be writing daily from my list of “good ideas for a book or story” rather than adding to the list.

  • http://michelewilbert.com/ Michele

    When Emily wrote, “I do this really weird and irrational thing where I imagine scenarios in my head – anything from terrible things happening to me or my family to simply sensing someone’s displeasure or dislike of me. And then I let the craziness rule the day.”  I thought I was the only one who did this! I would do less of this to be an artist! Thanks for sharing Emily!

  • Rachel Latham

    shared on fb : )

  • Rachel Latham

    I would listen more to what the Lord would have for me to do, than what the world would have.

  • Ashley M.

    I liked on facebook =)

  • Ashley M.

    I would look a lot less like a manager and a lot more like an artist by letting creativity flow through me by the leading of the Holy Spirit – allowing Him to use my gifts and talents for His purposes and to bring more JOY into my everyday life! I love the arts, but have limited myself in expression because of what I perceived to be my giftedness. I desire to walk in this wonderful definition of freedom I recently read – “fully becoming the woman God created me to be!”

  • Eweger

    Happy Birthday, Mary!
    Emily’s words let me face that fact that after a fire crisis a number of years ago, I put my life in a cage – to be safe and secure but it is boring and I’ve grown timid. This may sound so minor, but I would learn to strip off the wallpaper in our kitchen eating area and paint it a lovely sunny yellow. Then I would break open the package of paints and create something to hang there and my inner artist would smile and laugh again.

  • ALaine

    Fully present in each and every moment of life.
    family74014 at gmail dot com

  • Jeanette Morri

    I fb’d and tweeted!

    • http://www.marydemuth.com Mary DeMuth

      You are the winner, Jeanette, thanks to Random.org! Woot! Email me your address. :)

  • Jeanette Morris

    I would put joyfulness ahead of accomplishment, giving myself permission (well, that sounds like managing again) to be spontaneous, adventuresome, and expressive.

  • http://betweenbluerocks.wordpress.com/ Stacy Nott

    My office door would be open more than it is; there would be more moments with a real person on the other side of the teacup, fewer moments worrying what this outfit or that blog-post will make this or that person think of me, more days remembering that in His eyes I am clothed with Christ, beautiful, beloved. More singing along the sidewalks, less wondering who hears my voice.

  • Kristin Smith

    Well to stop living in fear. I lost my job 3 weeks ago to “outsourcing” and yesterday my husband lost his job. So we are at a crossroads….what to do now. We have talked about him starting his own business some day….but some day was supposed to be in 5 years or so when we were in a better financial place. Is God giving us the push we need to move forward with that….are we going to let fear control our decisions?? I think for me specifically to stop trying to endlessly control the things over which I have no control and to start seeing opportunities where I maybe haven’t seen them before!

    • http://twitter.com/emilychats emily freeman

      Wow, Kristin. Wow wow. I do hope this difficult time will morph into a beautiful opportunity for you. Exciting to see what’s ahead for the two of  you!

  • http://twitter.com/RachelWojo Rachel Wojnarowski

    OH wow! First: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MARY! And second, thanks for the words of wisdom, Emily! ;)
    Hmmmm. I am such the manager. 7 kids. yada, yada. I think it would look more fun. Less like work. Probably crazy good. 

  • Amy Rockwell Hunt

    I would be more enraptured with each moment and plan what’s (only possibly) coming up next/later on.

  • Jenna

    I would just do what I feel like God is telling me to do without agonizing over what I perceive other’s expectations are of me.

  • Anonymous

    I would be able to be more creative without worrying what others may think of what I made. Which would allow me to create more and feel a sense of freedom. Be a bird uncaged!

  • http://onceuponagrainofsand.wordpress.com/ Carissa

    to be less of a manager and more of an artist… anxiety (explained and unexplained) would be replaced by a freedom.

  • Sarahcomley

    I would be more free to be the artist I aspire to be! :) (and the necklace is oh so beautiful!)

  • Mariah Magagnotti

    I can’t even imagine being less of a manager… I feel like I need to manage it all.  Right now, it feels to me like my life would look chaotic.  But maybe I need some chaos??

  • Leanna Morris

    I think of a manager as in control, organized, totally focused, rigid, and busy

    As an artist,  I think, free in thought and manner, creative, less organzied, and happy with life.

    While I’m not organzied or a control person, I’d like to be more of an artist=creative!

  • Christine

    Manager = distracted listener. Always busy with “the list.”
    Artist = fully present, alive, attentive with people.

  • Diane McElwain

    Bed unmade, wash undone and I would be typing like mad until my eyes fell out writing a story.

  • Laura

    That is such a great quote! As soon as I read her response, I was like, “Yes. Exactly.” To me, a specific example would mean giving myself “permission” to pursue a photo project just for myself… stretching to capture a specific emotion or such vs typical business shots of ppl. Basically forcing my typical manager-type self into creativity.

  • http://www.triplebraidedlife.com/ Brenda

    I also posted the giveaway on Facebook!!

    Thank you!!

  • http://www.triplebraidedlife.com/ Brenda

    I tweeted about this awesome giveaway!!

    Also, Happy, Happy Birthday, Mary!!

  • http://www.triplebraidedlife.com/ Brenda

    I wouldn’t try to figure things out before their time.  I would trust in God’s leading one day at a time instead of expecting Him to reveal years at a time.  And I would speak boldly to others about my passions, convictions, and callings instead of trying to “manage” their thoughts of me by keeping it safe and just telling them what they expect to hear. 

    And by the way Annie Downs is amazing!  Very courageous!  If only I had embraced a life uncaged as a single woman!  But the time is now!  :-) Thank God for leading us to Uncaged lives!   

  • Leslie

    What a great, thought-provoking question! I think for me, it would mean writing more, but also acknowledging the “art” in the everyday…the doing small things with great love, bringing creativity and beauty to the mundane, everyday tasks and allowing God to infuse them with grace!

  • Faithnsamsmom

    i would view things as opportunity, available, possible with God, fun not as you have to do but as something you want to do! ( =

  • Kelli Wommack

    tweeted it!

  • Kelli Wommack

    I would live more in the moment. I would take more risks. i would laugh more, write more, dream more. Though a certian degree of management is necessary for balance and order, it can become the dominant rule and squelch all creativity and spontanaeity. Management is a job. Artistry is a passion!

  • Alycia M.

    If I lived more uncaged and was less than a manager, I would be more fun and my kids would smile more frequently. It’s something I must really work on…

  • Alycia M.

    If I lived more uncaged and was less than a manager, I would be more fun and my kids would smile more frequently. It’s something I must really work on…

  • http://www.asnapshotofmotherhood.blogspot.com/ Laura

    If my life was more like an artist rather than a manager I would be free…free to be me, to love life, to live life to the fullest. 

  • http://lauriewallin.com/ Laurie Wallin

    And I tweeted it. (Which is the first time I’ve ever done that for a giveaway. Thanks for doing giveaways that are actually interesting to post on twitter! :)

  • http://lauriewallin.com/ Laurie Wallin

    Hi Emily! Fun interview here. Let’s see, if I lived more like an artist and less like a manager I’d spend my free time painting my house and reading great books and less of it screwing around on inane things like clearing out my emails. 

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