Living the Good Life
Posted on July 21, 2009 - Filed Under The Good Life |
You hear the phrase ‘ Living the Good Life ‘, but what does this mean? It is interesting that as a culture we look to others to define something we can only define ourselves. Society will tell you the rules for a good life. Here are some of the usual suspects:
- Get good grades
- Go to college / get a degree
- Get a good job
- Get married
- Have children
- Go on family vacations once a year
- Save for retirement
- Exercise
- Eat ‘right’
- Definitely do not smoke, drink, or indulge in any way
Many people do all of these things (or as many as humanly possible), only to find themselves feeling lost. Days all seem to look the same. You come home from your ‘good’ job (that you hate), hang out with your spouse (who is or is not talking to you today) and kids (who disagree with everything you say), and watch some crap on tv while eating some crap on your plate until you fade into your evening coma.
The details may be slightly different for you, but you get the idea. You’ve been following the rules since you were old enough to know them, and yet your life feels less than fantastic. Maybe you need some new rules. Guess who gets to decide what they are? You! You are the boss of you…congratulations.
What would be your ideal day?
Here are some ideas to get you going:
- sleep late
- play with the kids
- do work that has purpose and meaning
- bonding with your spouse
What things do you love to do?
- play golf
- go horseback riding
- swimming
- smoke
- knitting
- dancing
- drink
- ride go carts
- relax
- get a massage
What are your favorite foods?
- little debbie swiss cake rolls (mine!)
- chocolate molten cake
- steak
- hamburgers
- pizza
- pasta
- bread
- brownies
- celery (just checking to see if you’re paying attention)
Where do you want to go?
- Italy
- France
- Vegas
- Brazil
- Australia
- the movies
- the ballet
- the superbowl
What purpose do you want your life to have?
- help people
- cure cancer
- save the environment
- become enlightened
- go to ‘heaven’
- suck the marrow out of life
- be creative
- make people smile
It is hard to have the life you really want if you have no idea what it is you want. You need a compass, but it has to be your compass. You may object that you have kids and a spouse and cannot just do whatever you want. Believe me, if you figure out how to be happier, your kids and spouse will be happier too. There is no better example for your family than your actions–which lessons do you want them to learn? Would you rather your kids simply exist, or would you like them to really live?
From your list, begin figuring out ways to inject some of your favorite things, places, food and activities into your daily life. Start now! Whatever you are waiting on to have happen before you can start living the good life (lotto, retirement, a raise, etc.) pretend it has already happened or that it never will. You cannot wait or you will die without ever having lived.
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Thanks for posting about this, I would like to read more about this topic.