Last 
weekend I went to Disney World with my husband’s family. We went to celebrate my in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversary. While Disney World is not really my thing; I don’t like rides, I get unfortable in big crowds, don’t do well waiting in lines, and I do not like the heat and humidity…I still had a great time and I learned a few things along the way. Continue reading What I learned on my trip to Disney World…
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~Mark Twain
At times, I can get uncomfortable with the idea of having uncertainty in any area or aspect of my life. I am an over scheduler (to a fault, I have a hard time saying no) and a planner. I plan my schedule rigidly to the minute- how long I’ll sleep, when I’ll workout, work, hang with friends, spend time with family etc… I’ve got a schedule lined up for the next few days, weeks, and even months.
I like to have control and I enjoy having things a certain way so I know what to expect. For example, I know that on Monday I am going to wake up walk the dogs, run, go to crossfit, yoga, work, test, teach, have dinner go to bed…. Then it’s back to square one on Tuesday. I feel comfortable knowing what to expect. So when I lose this control it can result in discomfort, anxiety, and sometimes fear. However, I’ve discovered recently that it’s ok to have uncertainty in life and it actually can be kind of fun!!
Having quit my job this fall/winter to open a yoga studio (that hasn’t opened yet, but I’m still working on), I began freaking out… “what was I going to do for work while I waited for my plans to fall into place?”. I got anxious, wondering to myself “what the hell was I going to do with my life?”, I tried not to freak out and began to have faith that it would all workout and that the universe would guide me to where I was supposed to be. I discovered that uncertainty sometimes forces us to explore aspects in life we never even knew existed and that’s what makes uncertainty and change so beautiful. Having done so, I started encountering numerous opportunities, found new jobs, met new people, etc.. that I would never have, if my plans weren’t altered or if I had stayed inside my comfort zone.
So while I still believe that planning is important and having goals are good too, it’s also ok to take a leap of faith, jump and see where you land. Trust that something will be there to catch you. So when you hit bumps in the road and need to alter your plan, just go with it. Think of it as a new adventure and see where the road leads!!
Right now, I could not be happier!! Change and uncertainty are crucial in the process of creating the type of life we want to live and the people we want to be. I’ve tried to open my eyes and embrace not having everything figured out all the time. So if you think of the future and you don’t see any clear picture, rather than get stressed or anxious, think of it as a blank canvas with endless opportunities to fill it with color. Maybe wake up one morning with no plans and just paint as you go, creating your own beautiful masterpiece.
Just like in the quote above by Mark Twain- explore life, discover new things, go after your dreams; accept change and uncertainty and begin to explore the unknown.
I have been thinking about how often people take things for granted. How we sometimes focus on the negative in our lives and we forget about all the good things. Somehow we’ve learned to believe that we need material items to be happy. So we go to work, hoping to make lots of money so we can buy things we want. We believe that these items will help us feel more fulfilled or make us feel that we matter; proving our worth to the world.
Since I quit my job and taken a pay cut, my husband put me on a budget. At first I thought, “what am I going to do?” Then I realized that I don’t need much. I have so much already and more than what money can buy. I started to think about all of the wonderful things in my life and having done so, I feel more content, more happy, and more sure that I am exactly where I need to be in life.
We don’t need to buy things to make our lives beautiful or joyous. We don’t need more glamorous items in our lives to find happiness and contentment. We can find these wonderful qualities in what’s already in front of us.
At times, I forget this. But in my best moments, I remember and my heart expands with more love for life and everyone around me.
In my mind, these things are perfect and are proof that we don’t need to buy anything to be happy, cool, excited, or content:
