Learning

Midlife Reflections #9

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HAP1

With my daughter set to go to college in the next few weeks, I reminisced about my journey into higher education.  I was so young and ready to take on the world with my hopes and dreams.  I took many classes to get exposed to things I never knew about and met a ton of people from all over the world.  I started off with a certain major in mind and then changed it over the course of the four years that I was there.  I had no qualms about making the decisions that I felt did made me happy…and to this day I have not regretted it.  After graduating, I took that vibrant enthusiasm and dove head first into what I can now call my life.  Granted there were some bumps along the way and I made decisions that seemed quite drastic but, in the end, it was what was in my best interest.  However, there was a period where I played it safe and made choices that I did not care for.   Looking back on it now, would I still make the same choices…absolutely not.  I’ve come to learn recently that life is really too short and I need to make the choices that will make me the happiest.  It might not be the most logical one in other people’s eyes but who give a rip.  This is my life and the smart move is to choose what I will like.  We have one life, so why not make it an enjoyable one.  The whole point of this is to stress that if you have a decision to make with your life, always listen to your gut and choose what will make you happy.  That will always be the absolute best move to make.

Mid-Life Reflections #7

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A1

We live in a hustle and bustle world where every minute of our lives is bombarded by things left and right.  There are times when chaos ensues and others that leave us completely dumbfounded.  Usually at the end of the day, we are completely exhausted both physically and mentally and end up sleeping it off only to continue with the hubbub the next day.

I’ve learned that too much exposure to all this commotion can sometimes cause us to  freak out and wonder “What the hell?!”

“Is this how it’ll be for the rest of my life?”

“Will it ever end?”

“What is my purpose in the scheme of it all?”

“Things have to get better right?”

All these questions must’ve popped into our minds at one point in time.  We’re either just starting to experience this, in the process of it or finally getting over it.  Whichever one we’re in, just know that in spite of everything, we need to stop and catch our breath.

Look around and take delight in your children, your pets, your siblings, your parents, your grandparents, your friends; just watch them and know that you are what you are because of them.

Watch the sunrise or the sunset; by doing this know that you are lucky enough to live another day.

If your life is not to your liking, change it.  It’s as simple as that.  Have a job that sucks, quit.  In a relationship that’s horrendous, end it.  Want to try something new, be fealess and go for it.  That cliche “Life is too short” is really true.

You got to where you are because you endured a lot and overcame obstacles that seemed insurmountable.  You can go much further and better yourself and situation if you just have faith in yourself.  Life is precious…so dare to be bold and custom life to your liking!

 

Almost, But Not Quite There Yet

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1A

When life throws you a curve, what do you do?  We are faced with making many decisions on a daily basis, some minor, others life-changing ones.  How do you decide which course of action to take?  Do you rush into it with emotions running high?  Do you take a step back and think things through?

1C

Lately, I’ve been pondering the decisions that I’ve made within the past several months.  Were they good ones…well it’s hard to say.  From my perspective, it might’ve been the wrong ones.  I think the past several decisions were based purely on emotions and in hindsight I should’ve taken a breather before jumping headlong into a predicament that exacerbated what was already a stressful situation.

1F

As always, I live and learn.  My comfort is in the fact that I have the power to do something about it and that it’s not something that’ll last forever.  No matter how bad the situation I’m in, I’ll find a way to resolve it.  I just need to look for the little signs that God has placed for me to find.  Once I can identify them and learn from it then it’ll be when I can move on.  Life is way too short to just give up and be content with where you are.

Granted I’ve made mistakes that led me to where I am today, but I have faith that this is the path that God designed for me.  I am eternally hopeful that this will ultimately lead me to where I was truly meant to be.  As long as I keep the faith, stay positive and persevere, I’ll be just fine.   

1G

Your Test Of Strength

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a11

When the chips are all down

and your luck has run out,

take several steps back

cast aside any doubt

 There are often times

when things don’t go your way,

you choose wrong, you fail

making mistakes throughout the day

 You’ve just hit a rough patch

in this journey called life,

just roll with the punches,

bid adieu to the strife

 In the midst of this insanity

there’s always a ray of hope,

that light at the end of the tunnel

is what helps you to cope

 You’ll get through this dilemma

and will reach the other side,

problems encountered hereafter

is taken all in stride

 Take pride in yourself

you’ve fought the good fight,

your character has mettle,

inner strength shown outright

So take charge of your life

when things go awry,

head straight forward, show no fear

wave those bad days goodbye.

The ABC’s of Living Your Life

/ markmkane / 6 Comments

3d illustration of abc letters over white background

When we start out in life, that sense of naivety is truly a blessing.  We are born into this world free of judgement.  We see others as our equals.  We have big dreams.  Our imaginations are at its peak.  We have no limitations.  We don’t know the meaning of quit.  We aren’t afraid to take chances and fail.  We are curious about the world and seek to learn everything and anything that’s new.  We show our appreciation and love openly and abundantly.  We say what we feel and then move on with no grudges or hardships toward others.  Our honesty leads the way and our good natured spirit keeps us ground.  We share our infectious bright beaming smile to everyone we see.  And best of all, every hour, every minute, every second is lived to its fullest; we live as if there’s no tomorrow. 

Somewhere along the way, as we grew up, we lost some of those shining traits.  If we can somehow remember what it felt like to be that child and apply it to our daily routine, then we can say that we are truly living.  It’s easy, it doesn’t take much to regain back those redeeming qualities, we just have to be willing to try.  So the best way to living our lives is to get back to the fundamentals.   

 ABC1

Navigating the Unknown

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When It Feels Scary To Jump…

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While channel surfing couple years ago, I happened upon a channel that featured a 2014 movie called “A Most Violent Year”.  Although I consider myself a movie buff, I’ve never really heard of this movie until that one fateful day.  I won’t tell you what the plot was because I stumbled upon it and really didn’t watch it till the end.  But I did happen upon a scene where a man by the name of Abel Morales said “When it feels scary to jump, that is exactly when you jump, otherwise you end up staying in the same place your whole life.”

This one line totally resonated with me and I just had to write it down.  I turned off the TV and soaked in those words.  I took it to heart and it quickly became etched within my subconscious.  You could almost say that I had an epiphany of some sorts.

This one quote, this one line from a movie I have never seen told me that in life, you need to take chances regardless of the outcome.  There are times when you’ll succeed and there are times when you’ll fail, but you must learn from it in order to grow into the person that you were meant to be.  Life is too short to play is safe, it needs to be explored with eyes wide open.  Life if full of endless possibilities with the potential to be great.

I took this to heart and felt that I needed to try anything even if it took me out of my comfort zone.  I lived by the code of being open to different things; doing so would broaden my horizons both mentally and physically.  Living by this way of thinking helped me to try different things; just facing the impossible or the uncomfortable with complete abandonment.  Living this way made me realize that to do these things require both strength and faith; the will to pursue what your heart desires with the self-confidence to know that you’ll achieve something positive from it regardless of the results.

Ever since then, I’ve been bestowed with nothing but great outcomes.  I dared to take a chance and came out a winner so to speak; I count my blessings everyday for doing so.  So if you are faced with doing something that takes you out of your comfort zone, go all in and bet on yourself.  The first step will be scary, terrifying even…but the end results will be much more rewarding.  Take that leap and dare to be great!