Life is not a dress rehearsal.  This is it, it is the big act, so why not live it to the fullest?

“Life is short.”  So often people will say this, followed by something either snarky or funny or serious.

 

“Life is short.  Smile while you still have teeth.” ― Mallory Hopkins

“Life is too short to say maybe.” — Katie Kacvinsky, Awaken

 

Sometimes it seems that life is like a river.  At certain parts it gets slow.  Think “lazy river”, and we just move along without little excitement or change.  There are the straight and narrow sections where there isn’t an option to change course or jump out.  The twists and turns can flip some of us over.  Chances are we won’t drown, but we have to shake off the cold and the shock of going under the water.  Then there are the rapids.  Many of us get caught up in the current and just keep moving along with little chance to slow down or, again, to change course.

 

But why do we have to keep moving along?  Why do we have to accept that we have to stay on that inner tube and follow where the water takes us?  Aren’t we allowed to maneuver ourselves in a different direction?

 

“The trouble is you think you have time.”  -Buddha

 

How many people have you known to die from a disease or unexpectedly much too soon?  I don’t mean a grandparent who died in their 60s, which is definitely still too young, but more like a man or woman who still had children living in their home who needed their parent.  A spouse who is now forced to raise their child or children alone and missing their other half.

Before we have children, many of us tend to take more chances in life.  We take riskier jobs and are willing to change if we’re unhappy.  We take exciting, and sometimes life altering vacations.  We go out and have fun and do what makes us happy.

Then, after we have children, something changes.  We are now responsible for another little human.  Their every need is dependent on us.  We need that steady income to keep the baby in diapers and the toddler in preschool and new sneakers for the child in elementary school who is growing like a weed.  They need a house in a good neighborhood with good schools.  That job that is making dad miserable comes with a paycheck that is needed to cover the mortgage and car payment.  The job that is keeping mom at the office until past dinnertime is helping keep food on the table and in the lunchboxes.

 

“Love the life you live, and live the life you love.” -Bob Marley

Many people follow a career that they are passionate about.  Many people live life to the fullest every day, regardless of their job, family status and size.

However, many people just go through the motions each day with their responsibilities with their kids, job and house and don’t stop to enjoy any of it.  If you’re one of those people, stop and look around you.  If you aren’t happy, what can you do to change that?  If you have to stay in your current job but the environment is somber and the work is daunting, what can you do outside of work to bring more joy to your life?

If you found out you had only a short time left to live, could you say that you lived your life to the fullest?  I know it’s not pleasant to think about, but it’s worth spending a few moments in your busy day to consider it.

Being the parent of teenagers, I know that most often my time is not my own.  That doesn’t mean I can’t steal moments for myself.  Reading a book is a rare occasion, but when I do, it’s heaven.  It also doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the kids’ activities.  I’ve become a huge fan of marching band, winterguard and basketball!  It’s hard juggling other responsibilities around activities, but I always look forward to attending – and cheering on the kids!

I happened into my new career thanks to the support of my loving husband, and a lifelong dream I had.  In another blog I’ll share my story of how my love for cameras and photography first started and why it took so long to pursue that dream.  Ultimately, at the age of forty-something, I finally said it’s time.  Time to do something I love that makes me happy.  Of course, I couldn’t have done it without the support and gentle nudging from my husband, and for that I am grateful.  We all need someone in our corner, but first and foremost, we have to be our own cheerleaders.  We have to start putting ourselves first sometimes.

Don’t get me wrong, when I was working full-time in an office environment, I loved my job and the people with whom I worked.  Sometimes I worked too much and it infringed on my time with my daughter, but overall I was happy.  Even though I worked a lot of hours, I still made time to volunteer and spend quality time with my family and friends.  I just didn’t make time to pursue my creative side, which had been screaming at me since I was very young to let it out.

Start small.  We can all find 10 minutes.  Spend that time today doing something just for you.  Read.  Walk (it’s finally spring!!!).  Paint.  Draw.  Take a bath.  Break out your camera and snap a few shots of those beautiful spring flowers.  That’s what I did.  That’s how it started.  The spring flowers, and even the weeds, got me.  Nearly two years later here I am, happy and pursuing a life-long dream.  I was able to steer myself down a different part of that flowing river, and I haven’t looked back.