I just read a fabulous blog posting that really resonated with me. I even printed it up; something I don’t often do as I read so many blogs. But this one hit me so that I feel moved to piggy-back and take off a bit more on a concept that Adrienne, the writer, touched upon.
First of all, I ask that you please read, The 3 Secrets of Extraordinary Living, from her blog, Experience Life Fully.
So what’s her idea that ‘wowed’ me? “Imagine yourself as an old man or woman… and you’ve just finished reading the Book of Your Life. What expression is on your face?”
That certainly made me stop and really take it in. It’s a new twist on something that I reflect upon often. It reminds me of the quote:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. ..” Mark Twain
Are we at least attempting to live in a manner we’re proud of and feel good about? It’s not always about the end result or the product, but rather the journey and process. We can feel proud of our Attempts even if we don’t ‘succeed’, but the sorrow and regret we can feel over missed opportunities cannot be erased and recaptured.
What seemed to have sprung forth from me after witnessing my daughter, Nava’s, miraculous survival, was a burning desire to live life with a sense of urgency, in a very conscious way, seeking out opportunities that spoke to my values, interests and dreams.
They may not all have become a permanent part of who I am; after my clowning experience in Sicily, I didn’t go on to become a clown, but having stepped out of my comfort zone to do something that had enticed me for years, is what I hold dear to me and adds to my wonderful repertoire of life’s activities.
Foster parenting a service dog didn’t make me into a dog-raiser for the disabled, but it provided me with an incredibly meaningful experience that continues to bring a smile to my face whenever I see a yellow lab.
What calls out to you – what interests, dreams, pursuits, activities? Can you make the attempt to do one thing and then another and possibly another, so that the expression on your face when you look at your book of life can be one of satisfaction? And yes, even difficulties can yield a certain sense of satisfaction.
Obviously nobody asks for the tough challenges, but once we have them, how are we handling them? Can we look back and say, ‘they were rough all right, but I was able to persevere and come through it intact with an ability to create joy and meaning in my life’?
Create your book of life – with intention and purpose and awareness. Make those pages jump out with authenticity and passion.
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