are you ok with missing out on your own life?
Do you want to let your life fly by?
I was listening to the radio on the way to the airport yesterday and the announcer made a comment I’ve probably heard a thousand times, yet never really thought about.
– ‘music to help your day fly by’, that was the comment.
Think about that for a moment. A major broadcasting network has figured out that a positive advertising tactic is to convince their audience that their music will help the day fly by. Is it just me, or is that a little sad somehow? The idea that most people out there are having to spend 8+ hours a day doing stuff they don’t truly want to be doing. Doing stuff that they want to pass them by. As quickly as possible, no less. And all to some good old Aussie rock.
The truth of course is that it’s not just an idea. The vast majority of people – possibly you included – are whiling away the time; whiling away their life. But if that’s you, don’t worry. Put on some of the tunes of your youth, smile and joke with your co-workers, maybe even come into work with a smile on your face just to confuse people every now and then. Just to confuse yourself, perhaps? Oh sure, it’s not that bad. Of course not. After all, you get to do whatever you darn well WANT when you’re not at work, don’t you? After the washing and errands and folding and cooking and gym and obligatory social and me time of course.
It’s not as though there could be any other way though, is it? Not as though pushing the norm, deciding not to be someone who wants their day to fly by is out of the question for you. Deciding, perhaps, to find a way of living that actually includes mostly the things you’re passionate about.
it’s only your life
Maybe it isn’t so bad. I mean, everyone around you is unsatisfied in one way or another. And living according to passion, living your ‘dream life’. That’s the stuff fantasies are made of. Surely even the people who seem to have a dream life have their own issues that no one can see. Right?
Well – yes. They most likely do. But it sure makes many of life’s little and even big issues seem a heck of a lot easier to deal with when the stuff surrounding them is the stuff you love.
it’s too hard
This is what I hear people saying to me when I verbalise these sort of thoughts to them. It’s what my sub-conscious hears most women reading this article saying inside their heads to me. To themselves.
It’s too hard.
I don’t know where to start.
I’m not even sure what I would really want to do.
I can’t afford it.
Listen up – here is what it comes down to. Either you’re too scared, or you’re too darn comfortable where you’re at. That’s it. That is IT. Don’t tell me I don’t understand your situation. Don’t tell yourself that BS, because you and I both know there are hundreds and thousands of success/happiness stories born out of nothing or worse than nothing.
Here is what it really comes down to – either you want what you have, because the supposed security and other perceived benefits of it outweigh the risk of something different, or you want something different.
So tell me. Do you want your life to fly by as you pop your head to the beat and count off the minutes of your life as you wait for the next fun/interesting/exciting moment? Or do you want to step off the edge and into possibility?
If it’s the latter, know this. It’s not about knowing it all, knowing where to start, even about knowing what you would truly love to be spending your time on. It’s just about making the decision that you want more. That’s enough for now.
So decide. Or don’t. Hey, what do I care? It’s only your life.
And there’s always good ol’ Aussie rock to help you pass the time.
Life is Now. Press Play.
Great post Kat! This is the very reason I think sitting down and revisiting one’s passions, goals and where they align with where one is at the moment, is so so important. I think it ties it well with Poliquin’s article that you posted the other day, i think it was titled ‘Myth of Discpline'(?)
You’re right Vee ? maybe a sub conscious reaction on my part!
Kat, this is an awesome post….I, for one, appreciate my life and all of the menial tasks I tend. I think of those that are confined or those that can’t do the most menial things for themselves or my mother that had Alzheimer. Life is short and it does seem to go by much faster the older you are. I always tell my four grandsons to not wish away their days. This evening, my husband left work coming home to southwest Louisiana from Houston and just after he left, a drunk driver hit him (and ran)and then two more vehilces hit him before he was slammed into a concrete wall totaling his truck. Thank God, he walked away from it. Life is fragile so instead of thinking about how bad we have it we must remember we do have it! Life that is!
I love all of your articles and thank you for providing us with so much wonderful information!
My pleasure Carly (is it?), and wow! Thank goodness your husband walked safely away. Life certainly is so fragile; I’m so grateful to have learned how to appreciate it rather than focus on what I don’t have.
Thank you so much Kat! It is Carlys….I did not do a great job at making my point in my previous post. I do try to aim high but try to also enjoy each moment and try to not let myself “cry over spilled milk”. LOL I don’t want to ever lose “my today” by fretting over yesterday or worrying about tomorrow.
You are such an encourager and so positive. We need more people like you in this world!
Have a great weekend! After 42 years I am still in love with my husband. Today confirmed that any faults he may have simply are unimportant!
Carlys
That is wonderful Carlys ? sorry I got your name wrong!
Brilliant!!! Awesome post Kat – a good reminder and/or wake up call for us all. You are an inspiration – keep up with the writing, I can feel you in flow from here!!! Jo ? x
Thanks Jo, that’s how I’m feeling as well with my latest approach to posting!
[…] something I’d never even contemplated before. The idea was that a key reason for people letting their life fly by might be a sub-conscious worry about what might happen if they reach their goals. Sure, […]