“Waking Up the Life Inside You”

I don’t know when it happens to us . . . somewhere between the days and the nights, and the chores and tasks we must complete in daily life, we forget why we are here.

Maybe it’s because of the television that has that favorite show of ours. Or because the passion we once had for the job - that was suppose to bring so much joy and enthusiasm for the purpose we thought we had - slowly eroded into just another check on the list of things to be done.

Maybe it’s the fact that we forget how fragile a balance life is, and how easily this precious and beautiful gift can be taken away.

But somewhere along the line we lose touch with the life we are living. What was once so new became normal, what smelled so sweet became muted and somewhere along the line we fell asleep in a day-dream of routine that we’ve accepted as “life,” substituting joy and happiness with “things” and distractions. And when we finally do wake up, we’ve realized we’ve slept most of this gift away. I know that there are some reading this now that may feel this way. And others, still young, who are beginning to fall asleep, losing enthusiasm and spontaneity that brings so much to life.

Strangely enough, though, it is usually a lose that brings life back into our lives. Losing someone that brings a shock that reminds us how precious our days really are. . .but it shouldn’t have to be that way. We shouldn’t need a reminder so sorrowful and powerful to remind us that this life is ever-changing, and that each moment is one to savor for all it is worth.

I remember there is a Native American tribe who has the saying “today is a good day to die.” Many who hear that would say it’s a very morbid thing to think about but, when I first heard it, it rang very true for me. How many of us could say that with honesty? If we knew that today was our very last moment – how many thoughts would run through our head? What regrets would immediately appear - the many “I-wish-I would-have’s” that paint the picture of a life unfulfilled.

It is not because we could never do these things that come to mind, but that at some point we became content with putting our hopes and dreams aside because we had become comfortable and the tomorrows seem endless enough to put them off for another day. But it’s when we say “tomorrow” to our aspirations that we put life away that we slide into our daydream of routine and acceptance for how thing are, instead of living a fulfilling and joyous life. But if we look closely, life is constantly reminding us about it’s gift, and showing us it’s beauty and fragility everyday. . .and for those who pay attention, life will never become just a streams of days, but one of moments and experiences that make you realize each second is priceless.

It could be as normal, but unappreciated an event as watching the sun rise and set; or the first time you see the ocean, the waves splashing onto the shore, its size reminding you just how small we really are, as it washes your footprints away in the sand. Life never truly stops or stands still. It doesn’t put things off for tomorrow or have any regrets. Why should we?

Don’t let life slip into routine, and don’t forget what your passions are, and what you have to be grateful for. Remind yourself constantly of these things and don’t take every day as if it’s one to throw away because there’s always a tomorrow – don’t fall asleep, wake up and live life. . .

What I’ve Learned “Growing Up” Along the Way: An Introduction

When a writer takes a break, it is very hard to begin again. The first sentence upon the blank page is so intimidating, the act of creating something totally new – it’s a daunting one. But I created this blog to get me writing again. And because I hope that somewhere someone will find this, and enjoy these words, and maybe if I’m lucky – and it’s every writer’s dream to wish this – that someone will gain something from what I write here.

But writing again after such a long time is like meeting an old friend. You can’t just dive into things. It starts with a handshake or a hug, and a few questions of how your lives have been, and essentially, what has changed since you’ve met last.

Writing is the same way . . . you can’t just pick it up and start again, in away you have to tell Writing how you’ve been. You have to tell Writing what you’ve learned since you’ve been away, and like an old friend, slowly get acquainted again.

But I’ve learned a lot since I’ve last put my hands to the keyboard again and it’s hard to even begin to explain it all. And because you, reader, don’t know me well, this will be my introduction because it’s hard to know where someone is going if you don’t know where they’ve been and what they are like.

I’ve grown so much and learned a lot along the way in this short time. I’m college-bound and at the beginning of what is essentially the rest of my life. I’ve enjoyed my adolescence more so then many in the fact that I embraced being young, and didn’t worry too much about becoming older before I had to. (To often people rush through life, wanting tomorrows to come today so much that they miss out on the present – I’ve tried my best, and am still trying, not to make that mistake.) But now, going to college, I finally am at the point where I have to accept being older, and enjoy it for what it is.

But here is where I tell you what I’ve learned, because this, reader, is where I get acquainted with Writing once again.

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I’m the type of person that would rather listen than talk, and that has taught me a great deal about people, and along the way, a little about life. I’ve learned that knowing is better then thinking you know, and before you know anything you have to listen to people. And listening is something that takes time to master. Too often we are too apt to speak first and when someone is talking, we are already thinking about what we wish to say after that. This grave mistake causes far too many people to never actually hear what others want to tell them. Learning that it’s not all about “me” that was one of my first lessons.

But what I’ve learned from listening to people has given me a treasure trove of knowledge just for paying attention. When we meet someone at first glance, we make assumptions that lead us to believe we know that person. I’ve learned time and time again - that even when maybe our first impression was right - that you don’t know anyone by just meeting them. Because people aren’t books or something that can be summed up – we are constantly changing and what makes us who we are could fill libraries, and no matter how long and how well we think we know someone, they can still surprise us.

But my most important lesson I’ve learned is that life is much simpler then we are lead to believe, it’s just finding out what’s important that shows us how simple it is. The things we stress over - the things we believe to be important – aren’t. A house, your job, that new cell phone you want, yes we can all say that these are things we need and are essential for living, but in the grand scheme of things, they mean very little. We have these things to live..but life isn’t just about living to get by…to go through the motions just to get through the day. Too many people have probably done this without ever realizing it. They get up and go about there routines, knowing what is coming and what to expect so much, that they’ve forgotten just how wonderful life is because they’ve been buried in the details to where they can’t see the whole picture.

Life is about joy. To enjoy to the fullest everyday because believe it or not – no matter how much your days seem to mimic each other – everyday is a gift that should be cherished for how precious it is. That being said, it truly isn’t about the “things” in life, because no matter how much happiness you believe they bring you, they aren’t what are important.

It’s about knowing how to smile. Cherishing the people who care for you, who realize that they aren’t the only ones living this life, and in so doing, come to know you, and do for you, as they would for themselves. It’s about taking the days as the come for what they are instead of wishing them to be something they’re not. Learning to accept a rainy day for what it is and make the best of it, instead of wishing that the sun would shine. Without the “rainy days” of life, we wouldn’t know how truly wonderful a good day can really be.

But lastly, and this is the most important thing – don’t ever take for granted that you wake up to another day. Every day, whether you believe it or not, is a new chance. When you wake up, the yesterdays before you – good or bad – are nothing more then a memory. You can leave them behind and let today be what you make it, but people tend to drag around their yesterdays and hope for tomorrows so much that they can’t take a new day for all it has to given them. Today is where life lives, and that is a lesson to truly be learned and embraced because if you do, you’ll find yourself smiling more - I promise you.

These are the lessons I’ve learned, and some I’m constantly reminding myself of, but realizing them have brought me to embrace what I’m given along this journey of life, and appreciate my days more then I did before.

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This, reader, is a better introduction then a name or a handshake because these things are a part of what makes me the person I am. Like I said there are so many things that we will never learn about people, but I feel the things I have put here reflect what makes me who I am and how I see the world. And I hope, If you’ve liked what you’ve read, that you continue to read as I share with you what I learn as I go along, as I’ve shared with you what I’ve learned along my way so far . . . because “growing up” never really stops as long as you continue to learn and pay attention to the moments that make life so wonderful.