I was sitting listening to a conversation today. . . .okay so I was eavesdropping. The conversation between the group of individuals was about living to be 100 years old. Not to be out done, one of the individuals brought up the importance of "making it". And from what I could, tell he was speaking of making it financially.
You all know me. Hearing that conversation got me thinking. We all seem to be so consumed with being germ-free, drink gallons of anti-oxidants, are doing the latest fitness craze (whether it's a DVD set or the new and coolest class), drinking ion-free water, etc.. But has anyone considered the importance of the quality of life we are all leading? I mean, sure, my grandmother is 102 years old. It baffles my mind to think about the things she's witnessed in her lifetime. But equally important is that she is still able to laugh at my stupid jokes, pretty much get around on her own, appreciates a good sitcom and in general is still very much "present" to day to day activities of her life.
I wonder if I could ask you, "How present are you to your life"? Are you doing what's popular because you think it says something about you or are you doing a specific thing because it's what truly brings you joy? There is no manual on life, you know. There is no special prize at the end of the rainbow for having done what was popluar during your lifetime. However, what I can tell you is this. Life is what you make it. If you allow yourself to be led by marketing from one product to the next and join groups and participate in actions just because they are popular, at the end of your life, you won't have much to look back on.
If, however, you're brave enough to look at every situation as an opportunity for growth, and personally assess each marketing craze to see if it's right for you, and basically keep a sense of balance and personal accountability about yourself and the choices you make. Then, I believe the special prize at the end of the rainbow is called being at peace with yourself.
For me life is all about balance. A balance between the aspects of life:
the spiritual
the physical
the social.
At any one time in my life, I call them chapters, I may have to focus a bit more on one aspect more than the others, but some balance must be maintained in order for me to be productive and look back years from now and be able to smile and feel good about the quality of my life, not just the longevity.
Let me give you an example. I once knew a person (wink) that was a minimum of 75lbs overweight. The person was depressed, complained of not being able to get any dates and sincerely felt that they were being passed over for promotions at work. Then this individual got the idea that they would get rid of the 75lbs using liposuction. Guess what, I ran into this person several months later and they said to me "Nothing has changed". The person went on to explain that they were still not dating, hadn't moved forward at work, and obviously was still very depressed. I believe this person "hadn't changed" because they had skipped the journey that goes along with a body transformation. The difficult days when you have to dig deep to stay on track. Committing to making exercise a consistent part of your week. Going through the growing process that in fact, unveils/unearths that part of yourself once buried.
The journey, the learning to have balance, the focus on quality versus hype, are all part of transforming you into the person you want to be...having the body you want, the energy and vitality you need and the overall health you're trying to achieve.
What aspects are important to you? I'd love to hear what you think.