IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH
TO FIND A WAY OF LIFE YOU LOVE,
YOU HAVE TO FIND THE COURAGE TO LIVE IT.
(John Irving)
Doesn't it sound funny that we would need courage to live our lives on our own terms? Shouldn't that be one of the easiest things we ever do? And yet I struggle with it.
I sometimes still find myself trying to fit into molds - good wife, good daughter, wonderful housekeeper, excellent cook, earnest volunteer, etc. I think about how much "easier" it would be. I'd have steps to follow or there'd be an accepted order to things. I'd be able to talk with people about "normal" subjects and not have them stare at me blankly or look away dismissively as I talk about my life.
But then I see one of my published stories online and the great comments from readers. I pop around the blogosphere and find all of you, living your amazing, courageous lives. I smile as I watch the tortoises walk around the courtyard. I leave the dust rag where it is and pick up a book instead. I sit on the couch, reading, as my husband kisses the top of my head then calls for Thai food for dinner. I hear him order crab rangoons because he knows I love them and he always lets me have the extra one.
Other people don't have to care about my life. They don't have to be interested in it. But if they don't respect it, then they don't have a place in it.
This week, let's make sure we're living our lives and not the ones we think we should, or the ones other people think we should. We only get one life here on this Earth. Let's not waste it. Let's not give it away.
I have a favorite saying: Be your own kind of beautiful. Super awesome thoughts. Be happy in being you, eh?
ReplyDeleteI love that - "Be your own kind of beautiful." :)
DeleteGood for you! It's your life. I know I'd enjoy Thai take out.
ReplyDeleteWe had Thai food this past weekend. Yum! :)
DeleteThis is actually something I'm working on right now. Courage is not something I have in abundance but I'm trying to muster it up. Great quote as always.
ReplyDeleteYou have more courage than you think you do. It's in there. Trust me. :)
Deletesounds like you are living the dream already! and i agree, others dont have to like it!
ReplyDeletekeep going girl!
Some days I don't see it, but on other days? Yeah, absolutely. :)
DeleteYeah, that dude said, "To thine own self be true" a looong time ago, but he didn't offer any how-to booklet to help us follow that advise. As an old(ish) fartessa, I can say that it definitely gets easier with age. Heck, I don't even bother to hold my stomach in anymore... I yam what I yam.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about it getting easier with age. Some things definitely. How old do I have to be before it's ALL easier? :)
DeleteI really like this quote. It is one to ponder.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Jai. :)
DeleteThis is my favorite post on this Monday. It's good to remind ourselves what's important and what makes us feel good. Always stop to take the time to be thankful for what we got!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad! I mentioned in a comment on another blog about "living on purpose." I'm giving it a try - really stopping and thinking about what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
DeleteWe usually have to take a lot of crap from people if we want to live on our own terms and create our own success. Some people just don't understand it. So it definitely does that courage ... and perseverance... but I think it's the best way to live!
ReplyDeleteIt would be so much easier - and nicer! - if people were more supportive and encouraging of each other's life paths. :)
DeleteHere Here!! I love this. This really inspired me this morning. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! :)
DeleteCouldn't agree more. Seize the day!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! :)
DeleteOoh, so true! It's a constant struggle for me to balance all the roles I attempt in life. I have a dear friend who, whenever she catches me being too hard on myself will ask, "Do you need a permission slip today?" I do the same for her. As simple as it sounds this little running gag between us helps keep ourselves and our goals first and foremost in the equation. ~Tui
ReplyDeleteThat "permission slip" is such a great idea - love it! :)
DeleteYes! Let's live life the fullest! Enjoy that book and your family, and your writing!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing my best! :)
DeleteSomebody just said I was inspiring on my blog. PFFFFT!!! You, Madeline, YOU are inspiring. This was awesome... even though I have a mad hatred for anything crab ... (you could have mine, too.)
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Cathy. :)
DeleteI could eat crab rangoons all day long, but we could order something else for you. :)
What a beautiful- and so important to remember- thought. And one I am struggling with DEEPLY this summer as pretty much every person I knowis getting married (everyone else I know is alreayd married and having babies now!). I compare and contrast and wonder if there's something wrong because I'm not moving towards these huge milestones. I have to constantly remind myself that I can't possibly judge my insides by other people's outsides and that the only person who knows what the milestones in my life mean is me.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for connecting with me, Madeline! I'm happy to know you.
We have to make our own milestones because the "normal" ones might not be what our hearts really want. It's easy to say but harder to do and reminding ourselves constantly takes work...but it's worth it. :)
DeleteAnd thank you for Following us here at TSR!
That quote really resonates with me. I am completely living the life I want - it's challenging, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Annalisa! :)
DeleteI've totally given up on that wonderful housekeeper thing. Given up, who am I kidding, I never even tried. (Really, my house isn't bad, just messy with kids toys.)
ReplyDeleteSo where do WE go to find your writing online?
Maybe if you played with the kids' toys, too, you could say you're using them and they need to stay out? :)
DeleteIf you check the Recently Published box on my sidebar or the Select Credits tab at the top, you'll find some of my published stories scattered around the Internet.