Interview with Larry, founder of the {very thoughtful and poetic} blog, Yesterday, Today, Forever:

1. What three things do you do for yourself every day?
I used to abhor the very thought of routine. And now, my “routine” feels like a ritual and I adore it.

Snuggles: Morning snuggles with my little boy is essential. If we skip that love-rooting, than the whole day can feels a bit wonky, like one of the tires on our wagon is loose.

Breathing: I do some yoga “breaths of fire” every morning, either when I walk the dog (as long as no one is watching,) or in the kitchen. Whatever works. Fire breathing is defined as “a cleansing and energizing breath, powered by abdominal contractions.” I love it. Just a few fiery exhales can make the past go bye-bye and bring you right to where you are. The very best instructional resource I’ve found is from Kundalini yoga master Gurumuhk. Here’s a snippet from her awesome yoga DVD.

Perfume and mascara: even if I’m writing all day and won’t see a soul other than my hubby and kid, I’m rarely without my amber oil and black/brown mascara. A girl’s gotta feel good in every way.

2. When did you begin blogging? Has it changed the way you write?
Firstly, can I say that I really loathe the word “blog” or “blogging”? It sounds like “snot” or “blah.” I avoid referring to myself as a blogger – I am a writer who happens to publish my work online. And I think that even more fundamentally, I’m a philosopher who happens to write. And…I don’t consider myself a diarist (I’m too private) so the web-log terminology is even less fitting. Rant complete.

So, no, the medium of Internet publishing hasn’t changed the way I write. I’m fortunate that as a communications vehicle, the web is a great ride for my natural style of communicating, which tends to be pithy, quick, and direct. {and I didn’t really answer the question: I started writing when I was about 6.}

3. If I wanted to get you in a really good, peaceful mood, what should I do, say and plan.
Well, we would not be meeting at an outdoor café in the cold. (I have the metabolism of a reptile, if I’m not warm and cozy I’m distracted and cranky.) You should probably be incredibly honest. And you should probably bring some high-grade organic milk chocolate.

4. You can meet your favorite writer anywhere you like? Who and where do you meet?
I think Anne Lamott is a ruby gem of a human being. And we’d meet somewhere warm to laugh our butts off, philosophize, and eat milk chocolate. If she had to cancel, I’d meet with Leonard Cohen just about anywhere … even in an igloo.

5. What do you feel is the connection between longing and belonging (a la John O’Donohue)?
Great question. I think it’s a really precious dualism that you can’t escape if you want to be wide awake. We want to go home…we are home. We seek approval…we seek to be free. We want to be independent and truly self-referencing but the truth is that we do need each other … because we are each other. I think it’s just what Ken Wilber means when he refers to holarchy.

I think longing and belonging is the “interesting times” of our consciousness. It’s damn hard euphoria.