LIVE, DON’T JUST EXIST. by Janice “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.” Far too often we travel through life on autopilot, going through the motions, accepting what is, and having every day pass like the one before it. Everything seems relatively normal and comfortable, except that constant thought in the back of your mind that’s saying – I want to change, but am too comfortable or scared. It is time to break free from your mold and truly live more of your life – to experience it and enjoy it to the fullest, instead of settling for a mere existence. Why exist, when you can LIVE. Here are a few things that I think can help you on this journey, simple yet if you truly live them they could be life changing. Appreciate the great people and things in your life. – Be grateful for what you have, who loves you, and who cares for you. You’ll never know how much they mean to you until the day they’re no longer beside you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it to live. Ignore other people’s negativity. – Life is way too short to be negative to others, or allow negative people to stay in your life. Sometimes to allow greatness to come into our life, we have to make a choice to say goodbye to things/people that bring us down. Forgive those who have hurt you. – There is no time to hate or hold grudges, I’m too busy loving people who love me. Be who you really are. – Uniqueness is priceless. Find the courage to keep being your awesome self. Choose to listen to your inner voice. – Life is a courageous journey or nothing at all. We cannot become who we want to be by continuing to do exactly what we’ve been doing. Do what you know in your heart is right for YOU. And be sure to appreciate every day of your life. Good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience, and the worst days give you the best lessons. Embrace change and enjoy your life as it unfolds. – The hardest part about growing is letting go of what you were used to, and moving on with something you’re not. You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but eventually you will arrive precisely where you need to be. Choose your relationships wisely. – The best relationships are not just about the good times you share, they’re also about the obstacles you go through together, and the fact that you still say “I love you” in the end. And loving someone isn’t just about saying it every day, it’s showing it every day in every way. Recognize those who love you. – The most memorable people in your life will be the ones who loved you when you weren’t very loveable! Do things your future self will thank you for. – What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. Wake up each day like it is your birthday! Be thankful for all the troubles you don’t have. – Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don’t have. We are very lucky to have all that we have, complaining shouldn’t even be in our vocabulary. Wake up each day with gratitude. Leave enough time for fun. – Never let your life become so filled with work, your mind become so crammed with worry, or your heart become so jammed with old hurts or anger, there’s no room left in them for fun, for awe, or for joy. Enjoy the little things in life. – The best things in life are free. I LIVE FOR SIMPLE JOYS. Watching the sunset over the horizon or spending time with a family member. Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. Accept the fact that the past is not today. – Don’t let the past steal your present and future from you. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Let go when you must. – It’s not always about trying to fix something that’s broken. Some relationships and situations just can’t be fixed. Start over and create something better. Strength is being able to persist, and start over again with a smile on your face and passion in your heart. It is my hope and wish to take these simple words/tools and realize that I have all the necessary things within me to LIVE an optimal and best life. xo Janice
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 13:59:13 +0000