It's Week 2 of The Declaration of You BlogLovin' Tour!

You guys, last week was amazing. 45 posts total, dozens of tweets, a Facebook party with over 250 comments, all on the topic of enthusiasm. To that I say: YESSS!

And this week it's all about UNIQUITY. Alllllll the things that make you YOU; that make you unique!

On the surface, it might be hard to think of how you're unique, in a world so saturated with people who probably do the same kinds of things that you do and like the same kinds of things that you do, too.

Using myself as an example, I'm a painter and a pattern designer. I like to run. I like to eat healthy food. I'm pretty average height, pretty average weight, pretty average looks. I like to be outside. I like to travel.

None of these things are all that unique on the surface. There are plenty of people in the world who do those same things and like those same things that I do.

What Michelle and I are here to say is that all the things that make up who YOU are, whether you think they're very unique or not, is exactly what your uniquity is. All your qualities, all your likes/dislikes, all your talents, all your values and beliefs, all mixed up in your body, your heart, your mind, resulting in one beautifully complicated and one-of-a-kind human being.

There is no one else walking on this planet who is quite like you. No one in the world has the same combination of qualities and personality traits and talents and quirks that you do. You are one remarkable, unique person, my friend!

So, just like we did last week, I think we should make a list. List all the ways that you are unique! I'll start, of course. :)

Some of the ways I'm unique (you're about to learn a lot about me!):

• I am left-handed
• I am the oldest of 5 kids
• I cry when I see Humane Society commercials
• I love grapes and can eat them until I'm sick
• I used to wish I was French when I was a little kid
• I am obsessed with cats
• I love chewing Trident orange-flavored gum
• I am an introvert
• I am highly sensitive
• I love color and fancy myself quite astute with how to use it
• I love tiny things -- most especially ponies and miniature cacti
• I drink a green smoothie for breakfast every morning
• I am a colorful painter
• I taught myself how to design patterns
• I listen to my intuition and use it as a guiding tool in my life
• I am kind-of afraid of the ocean
• I am a good singer and used to be a singer/songwriter in high-school and college, before I became a full-time artist
• My dad died when I was 24
• I'm really good with kids
• I am a good listener
• I believe the universe responds to our thoughts and beliefs (Law of Attraction, yo!)
• I can mix paint to match any color you show me
• I love doing puzzles
• I have a tattoo on my back that I got when I was 17 that I can't stand, that I think I'm going to have turned into a crow one of these days. My mom said I'd regret getting the tattoo. She was right.
• I dream of traveling to India
• I am highly self-motivated
• I learn quickly and am resourceful
• I'm a nice person
• I love to run 
• I love looking at trees and plants
• I want to help inspire people to go after their dreams and never give up
• I love to be cozy
• I love Christmas
• I am a home-body, but I also love to travel
• I worry a lot
• I don't like talking on the phone
• I love reading self-improvement books
• I love riding my bike

Yeehaw! Today is kick-off day of our Declaration of You BlogLovin' Tour. My book, The Declaration of You, co-written with Michelle Ward is coming out THIS MONTH (!), and we've created a spectacular virtual tour to celebrate! From June 3 - August 2, 2013, over 250 blog posts, written by inspiring, amazing, and declarative bloggers, going up around the world - and every declarative link will be added to The Declaration of You website, so we can click, read, declare, converse, and enjoy!

Every Monday for the next 8 weeks I'll be writing my own Declaration post about our topic of the week. And the topic for this week, Week 1, is ENTHUSIASM.

Dozens of other posts on the same topic each week will also be written. You can start here with my declaration post each week, and then head over to the Declaration of You website for all the other links, so you can find out what other people have to declare around the topic of the week. Sounds fun, right?

Oh! And if you're inspired to join in, we would LOVE that. Just email abby[at]thedeclarationofyou[dot]com, and she'll send you all the BlogLovin' details. The more declaring, the better, we think! Your link will be live on The Declaration of You website for all the world to discover. Fun! (If you write a post and share it via social media, use the hashtag #tdoybook for easy finding.)

Let's get started!

I have some things to say about enthusiasm. Michelle and I talk in our book about how enthusiasm is rooted in your Big Likes. Big Likes are the things that you just really enjoy (maybe you'd even go so far as to say you LOVE some of them!), just because. You don't have to have a reason. Nobody can tell you you "shouldn't" like them. Your Big Likes are the things that make you YOU, and they're the things that are ultimately going to bring you the most happiness in your life.

Your Big Likes don't have to be IMPORTANT. Or SERIOUS. They can be, of course, but they don't have to be. There's no pressure here. They can be as simple as loving to go out for coffee with your boyfriend on Saturday mornings, or the feeling of sunshine on your face when you go outside for lunch. The idea is just to start making a list of the things that really make you feel GOOD and ALIVE and CONTENT. You don't need to have a reason for liking them. It doesn't matter. What does matter is pinpointing what you actually like -- not the things that you think you should like, because it's what grown-ups like, or because your parents or friends expect you to like it, or whatever other reasons you tell yourself, but things that you actually really and truly like. It makes me sad when people think they aren't supposed to like something, or they're embarrassed about liking something, because really, who the heck cares? I think we should all just OWN the weird things that we like and get on with it, as happier and more enthusiastic people. Yes? Ok, good.

I'll go first. (I've been paying particular attention this past week, getting ready to write this post!)

Here's a list of some of my Big Likes:

• burning incense
• a big pile of organic veggies, straight from the garden or CSA
• aimless neighborhood walks
• taking breaks to lay in the sunshine in my backyard
• looking at trees
• green smoothies for breakfast every day
• my cats (and all cats, really!)
• all things India-related
• riding my bike
• vegetarian/vegan restaurants
• paint chip displays at the hardware store
• all the colorful patterned dishes all stacked up at Anthropologie
• browsing art supply stores
• vacationing with Ryan in new places
• deep, intimate conversations with friends
• old painted signs on buildings
• reading books in bed on a rainy day
• herb shops/apothecaries
• tiny cacti
• tiny bottles and boxes. tiny anything, really
• hiking with Ryan
• popcorn + wine for dinner
• running
• massages
• going to bed early (so luxurious!)
• making my own natural skin cream
• painting (obviously)
• ranunculus
• buddha statues
• junk stores
• making repeat patterns (again, DUH, here)
• reading books on the beach
• Frye boots
• mossy rocks
• hot air balloons
• singing in the car
• picking fruit on a farm
• self-improvement books
• Dirty Dancing (the movie!)
• Mark Ruffalo
• road trips
• having my feet rubbed

Also! We're having a Facebook Party each Friday at 12:30pm EST, to discuss the week's topic. We'd love it if you joined us this Friday to talk about Enthusiasm! Click on the graphic below to RSVP yourself:

Next Monday I'll be back with a new Declaration post, all about Uniquity (aka: what makes you unique!). Until then, happy declaring! Big Likes, ahoy!