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 heart's 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 centre of your own sorrow

if you have been opened by life's betrayals

or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain

I want to know if you can sit with the pain: mine or your own,

without having

to hide it

or fix it

I want to know if you can be with joy: mine or your own

If you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the

tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us

to be careful

to be realistic

Or to remember the limitations of being human



It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true

I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself

If you can bear the accusations of betrayal

And not betray your own soul

I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy

I want to know if you can see beauty

even when it is not pretty every day

And, if you can source your own life from its presence

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine,

and still be on the edge of the 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 the 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 know or how you came 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 with whom or what you have studied

I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all 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



-- c. Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Dreams of Desire 1995