One of the greatest things about life is being alive. One of the worst things about life is being alive. The most excitement in each day begins with getting out of bed in the morning. The most excitement in each day is going back to bed. Every waking minute is filled with things that create feelings of wonder and awe. Every waking minute is drudgery, and a cruel lesson in suffering.
If those words and sentences could be placed in a square pattern with a third dimension, we could plot out each day of our lives within those boundaries. Over a period of time we would see there is a balance to our lives and we are generally right there in the middle somewhere. Generally is a pretty general term and does not say a whole lot.
For some of us our life would plot out around the top of the plot we created representing our lives. Each minute of every day is one big high pitched fast action picture book of wonders. By the time we lay our head on the pillow, we know it was one of the better days of our life.
For some of us our life would plot out at the bottom of the plot we created representing our life. Each minute of every day is one big disappointment and the only wonder in our life is the fact we made it though another day without disappearing in a puff of boredom. By the time we lay our head on the pillow, we know it was another one of the worst days of our life.
For most of us however, we would see our life is more or less in the middle of the plot we created. Some days will have been very exciting. Other days would have offset the excitement with a day or two of tedium. Over all though we are satisfied with our life and the path we are on. The downswings are offset by an equal or larger number of upswings. We tend not to mind those ‘bad’ days, because it helps us better appreciate the good days.
In my experience where we find ourselves in this life plot has a lot to do with our age and expectations. Generally the closer we get to getting truly old the better we feel life is. The younger we are the more boring and tedious we tend to find our life. I am not sure, but I imagine our gender also has a lot to do with how we feel about our life too. In many cultures gender makes decisions for our lives which we have no control over or say in.
I used to find life tedious and boring. I would compensate by causing excitement in various ways in those people around me. Usually by pushing buttons and stirring them up. Some days I was not even aware I was doing it. Other days I tried extra hard to get people wound up. One day I realized the amount of pain I occasionally caused in peoples lives trying to amuse myself, and I decided I would not do those things any longer.
The problem then was I did not know what to do. I was very fortunate as luck would have it. I was lucky enough to read and be told a few thoughts that changed how I managed my life. It did not happen over night, but it did happen, and still does happen. I want to share them with you. Here they are:
1. I am going to die some day, and I have the opportunity and tools to change my life if I want to.
2. I like people
3. If I change my mind, I change my world
4. When I feel really sorry for myself, I read the obituary. Obituaries contain the names of people who would give anything to trade places with me.
They were tough words at first for me to understand and harder yet to make a part of my life. Every day I would catch myself and remind myself of these thoughts. I think if we distill life enough, we can find one basic premise: Life is what we choose to make it.
i’ve been feeling quite restless lately especially when work is always about sitting on the desk and reading and reading and reading. maybe it’s a kind of lethargy induced by too much sitting all day long? but maybe perhaps it is also because of my age? I’ve always wondered, if as youths we are allowed to reach the level of mindset, the wisdom and the satisfaction that 50 yr olds feel, imagine the kind of changes youths are able to do instead of feeling restless and wanting always to be elsewhere from the exact place that we are at the moment.
Hi Karina,
Thank you for having the courage to write out your thoughts.
I think most young adults have a very difficult time because they have no one to help them, or to provide reasonable advice on how to find themselves and their life purpose. Add in Ego, non stop influence peddling and attempted mind control from most media in every manner and form (including organized religion); it is no surprise you may feel restless, and find lasting contentment elusive.
In my life, I had no one to show me how to live properly. I was my worst enemy now and again, and my so so friend most of the time. Watching others, it appeared everyone knew something I did not (with a few obvious exceptions). It was not until I realized most people were faking it, and were clueless about themselves and their life purpose, that I knew I had to change everything about me to be happy. I decided I wanted a real life for myself, and I went in search of it.
My biggest challenges from that point on (after identifying them) were: Taking my ego out of the drivers seat; learning to accept who and what I am; and how to live in the moment. Life became good knowing who I really am, flaws and all, knowing I am in charge of me, and responsible for my life, living in the moment instead of the past or future, and knowing my life purpose.