I Would Like ... , by Lariv Athem

What would I like?

I would like to live a life of wisdom and compassion, like the sunflower, turning toward what deeply nourishes it.

I would like to be at the edge of my knowing and becoming, present with joy and wonder, to the beauty of life's emergence.

I would like to live without fear for myself or my loved ones, extending to all beings, and without causing fear to any living being.

I would like to live with a radical tenderness and the confidence that everything is workable.

I would like to engage with others with an attunement to their greatest gifts, and mine, and with an attunement to what wants to emerge.

I would like to engage in my work with a sense of privilege and possibility.

I would like to be be a hub for interconnection, letting flows flow through, without needing to hold on to anything.

I would like to welcome and play with what arises in the moment, in any situation.

I would like to live, to love, as an invitation to infinite things.

What would you like?

Seed Questions for Reflection

How would you like to live and engage with your work? Can you share a personal story of engaging with others with an attunement to your and their greatest gifts? What helps you engage in your work with a sense of privilege and possibility?

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Add Your Reflection

6 Past Reflections

BarbaraS.

May 19, 2026

I wish for my life to be of service and to be compassionate and loving. I have a lovely neighbor who recently lost her husband. We moved here not long ago so we are only getting know each other. I was chatting with her yesterday about my life and we have much in common. She is deeply grieving her husband and is so very lonely. She brightens when we speak together and even has a chuckle now and then. I hope to be a light on her path to finding herself and happiness again. I feel somewhat that it is my ego wanting to be helpful so I must be careful. I truly want to ease this woman's pain, though.

Gururaj

May 18, 2026

Obviously a radically transformed person will live like this spontaneously. But what about me ? Can I take Lariv Athem's lovely lines as an Anthem ? Fake it till I make it !?

David Doane, author of A Psychotherapist's View of Reality

May 18, 2026

I would like to live and engage with my work bringing all of me sincerely, openly, caringly, honestly, respectfully. I achieve some degree of that sometimes. When younger I was so enthused by my belief in my work and my thinking I knew the truth and the way that I was often poor at listening to others and attuning to them and their gifts, which was a disconnect. I worked in the mental health field. Slowly but surely over time, stubborn as I am, my attuning to and valuing others and their ways and gifts increased, and our connection increased. As our connection grew, our learning and growth increased. What helps me is the nourishment I have felt in my work. I feel a gratitude and a sense of good fortune and privilege that I got into this work which resonated with me and may have saved me. The growth I gained helps me engage knowing the possibilities for me and for others.

Jagdish P Dave

May 17, 2026

I like this poetical writing written by Lariv Athem. This writing begins with a question "What would you like" and ends with the same quetion "What would you like?" According to my understanding, we keep our mind and heart open to receive wonders of the world. I was born by the union of two loving and caring parents. Unconditional love creates union between two people regardless of apparent and outward differences. When we engage with others with a loving heart life flows like a river. Outward differences do not create walls beween two people. Walls are created by this way of thinking and living. Instead of divisiveness, true love creates and sustains union between people. We need to generate, cultivate and sustain such union between people of different caste, color, creed, ideas and status. Following this path is essental in the world we live in. Sadly the world we live in is highly divided by political, social, ideolgical, and economic, caste and clolor differences. When I was... View full comment

Allie Middleton

May 17, 2026

As I sit with this question, I notice I would like to live more like the woods and waters I love — grounded, aware, and quietly alive.

I would like to meet life with curiosity more than certainty.

To trust emergence.

To love with courage.

To help create conditions where people feel more themselves, more connected, and more able to offer their gifts.

In my work, I am learning that wisdom is often relational — something we grow together through listening, attention, and care.

And perhaps most of all, I would like to remember, again and again, that what is needed is often already here, quietly waiting for our willingness to notice.