Thursday, June 30, 2005
this moment is your life
i just returned from an amazing trip from minnesota to washington state. it was magnificent. the beauty i saw is still seeping it's way into my veins and filling me with awe. while seeing all that i did was part of what made the trip amazing, it was made magnificent by my decision to really be present and and to fully experience everything.
coming home and returning to 'normal' life has been interesting. i've been missing the forests and the mountains. missing being on the trip. i've also been really cherishing being home. remembering all the good things about the life i have built for myself. as i was reflecting on these two distinct feelings this morning it occured to me that there is some 'thing' that i think i cannot experience unless i am traveling - some 'thing' that i've told myself is unavailable to me at home.
as i thought more about it i realized it's not exactly one thing, it's more a perspective. a relaxed, adventurous, awe-filled outlook on life. and i realized that if i can feel this on vacation, then i'm settling by not feeling it at home. i'm at home the majority of the time, and i love the experiences i have when i come from this perspective, so why not adopt it all the time?
a very wise friend once said to me in a conversation about life and how to make it what i wanted, "this is your life, kirsten. the things you did since you got up this morning, the places you'll go later today, this is it. this is your life." it has stuck with me ever since, that simple statement: this is your life. today, right now, this is it.
so i'm deciding to stop reserving my vacation perspective for traveling. i am choosing to be present, go for adventure and soak up the beauty and awe all around me - all the time.
what perspective or outlook do you reserve for 'special occassions'? what have you told yourself isn't possible in amidst the day to day grind? what if it was? what if you decided to make it happen? this is your life. start today.
dream big,
-kirsten
coming home and returning to 'normal' life has been interesting. i've been missing the forests and the mountains. missing being on the trip. i've also been really cherishing being home. remembering all the good things about the life i have built for myself. as i was reflecting on these two distinct feelings this morning it occured to me that there is some 'thing' that i think i cannot experience unless i am traveling - some 'thing' that i've told myself is unavailable to me at home.
as i thought more about it i realized it's not exactly one thing, it's more a perspective. a relaxed, adventurous, awe-filled outlook on life. and i realized that if i can feel this on vacation, then i'm settling by not feeling it at home. i'm at home the majority of the time, and i love the experiences i have when i come from this perspective, so why not adopt it all the time?
a very wise friend once said to me in a conversation about life and how to make it what i wanted, "this is your life, kirsten. the things you did since you got up this morning, the places you'll go later today, this is it. this is your life." it has stuck with me ever since, that simple statement: this is your life. today, right now, this is it.
so i'm deciding to stop reserving my vacation perspective for traveling. i am choosing to be present, go for adventure and soak up the beauty and awe all around me - all the time.
what perspective or outlook do you reserve for 'special occassions'? what have you told yourself isn't possible in amidst the day to day grind? what if it was? what if you decided to make it happen? this is your life. start today.
dream big,
-kirsten
# posted by kirsten johnson @ 5:42 AM 
Comments:
<< Home
Ahh, you've been reading about buddihsm, haven't you?
I'm currently reading the book "Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. One of my favorite lines in the book is "This is it." It makes me smile everytime I think it to myself. Really brings expectations about life into perspective. Also makes you recognize that if you're going to make changes in your life, there is no better time than right now.
Your blog is amazingly inspirational . It's refreshing to see someone acting upon thoughts that many people have but are too afraid to do anything about.
Post a Comment
I'm currently reading the book "Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. One of my favorite lines in the book is "This is it." It makes me smile everytime I think it to myself. Really brings expectations about life into perspective. Also makes you recognize that if you're going to make changes in your life, there is no better time than right now.
Your blog is amazingly inspirational . It's refreshing to see someone acting upon thoughts that many people have but are too afraid to do anything about.
# posted by 
: 3:48 PM
: 3:48 PM << Home