I know the type of life I want to live, but I’m not 100% sure how I will achieve it.
I think knowing is a lot of the battle, but not all of it. Oftentimes, we’re forced to learn how to do something simply by doing it, no amount of preparation can replace good ol’ fashioned getter done. (Please let the record show I did look up getter done, and while I do like the spelling “git er” I did ultimately decide on getter because it looks a lot like better, and it’s better to getter done).
The life I am working towards is one where I live close to my family and friends. As it stands now, my family and friends are spread across the United States, so it is hard to imagine now that it could be a possibility; there’s still time.
The life I’m working toward allows me free time. This free time is mine to explore anything and everything that pops into my head. Most recently, that’s been a lot of reading, writing, and figuring out ways to build community. The life I’m living now allows for a lot of that.
The life I’m working toward has overflowing resources. I’m paying off debt right now, and I often take two steps forward and one step back (most recently I paid off all my credit cards and then subsequently racked them up again during my move to China). I don’t like having to be careful about my money, so in a lot of ways I’m not. I love being able to treat people. I love being able to travel, and I love being able to sit in coffee shops, so I continue to do so, but I don’t want to feel debt weighing down on me. It’s something I need to balance.
Last year, I did a group container with a wonderful woman named Joy. During one of our sessions, she said something so significant and profound, and I know I won’t do it justice, but I’ll try anyway. She told us that we may all have things we’re working towards or things we want, and the best way to get them is to perfect our lives now. What could we be doing to get ourselves close to the things we want. Each day since I’ve been trying to do just that.
The life I’m striving towards is rich in so many things. It’s rich in friendships, so now I’m doing my best to be the best friend I can be. It’s rich in community, so now, I’m trying to build community wherever I find myself. It’s rich in resources, so now I’m trying to get out of debt and make sure my money is working for me. It’s rich in love, so now I’m learning how to love others the way I want to be loved. I want to perfect my life now, and I’ve already seen how that can change everything.
Being able to do what I’m here to do is, and will be, so fulfilling to me, so I continue to strive towards it. A life well lived is great, but a life well living, right now in the moment, is the true measure of success for me.