Action, Happiness, Living Fully
A LIFE WELL LIVED
I don’t know if it’s my age, or just matters of circumstance, but I have been faced with what feels like more than the average number of deaths this last year. Close friends, not so close acquaintances, strangers who felt like I knew them, plus the disintegrating health of many older people in my immediate circle.
Death and taxes, the only two things we can count on, the old saying goes. And indeed it is true.
When I think about death, I immediately think about life. I think about the life the person has led. Did they do what they wanted to? Was their time here well spent? Did they leave something behind? If you could bring them back for a brief conversation and posed the question, did you do what you wanted? Do you feel like you set out to accomplish your goals, or most of them, whatever they might have been? Did you enjoy most of your time here? Would they respond with a vibrant “Yes. Like all lives it had its share of sorrows and let-downs, but all in all it was grand. I took advantage of all that was offered and when advantage was not offered, I made my own.”
If that is the answer, it’s hard to feel too sad. You can feel loss and you can miss them. But at least you know – theirs was a life well lived.”
Some people live to be 90 and they live lives of anguish and unrealized dreams. They rattle around in rooms heaped with regret and sadness. While others spend less time alive, but manage to cram those years full of happiness, love, work that gives them satisfaction, achievements (if that is what they want) connection and passion.
My grandfather died at the age of 76. While I miss him to this day, when I think about his life, I don’t feel any sadness. He did what he wanted while he was here. I know if I got the chance to ask him – “Did you do 80% of what you set out to?” The answer would be “yes.” I know if I was allowed to pose the same question to my grandmother that the answer would not be as positive.
So, in that way her death causes me more unhappiness. As I don’t think she did what she wanted to do with her years. And she got an extra twelve more than he did.
So, as you start this week, stop and ask yourself,
1) Are you doing the things you want to do: Or at least some of them?
2) Do you like your job?
3) Are you happy in your relationship?
4) Are you connected to others in a way that gives you joy?
5) Do you give back to the world in a way that allows you to be proud?
6) Is your life full of passion for things? People? Hobbies? Nature? Music? Art? Animals?
7) Do you have the body you want? Not in a vanity way. Is it as strong as it can be? Do you use it well? Do you care for it with diet and exercise?
8) Are you grateful?
9) Do you trust or is fear a bigger part of your life than faith?
10)Do you set out to do things and complete them?
If you have more than a few negative responses you might want to start working on your life. You should consider changing some of those nos to yesses.
You can use our first affirmation.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE AND IT’S PROBABLY ME
None of us knows how long we have – so my advice is get cracking.
At the end of the day, or the end of our lives we are responsible for how well we used our time here.
Do you want yours to be a life well lived? And that has nothing to do with money. I know people who had all the money in the world and they died miserable and alone having done nothing that they wanted. And I know street people in India, who if you asked them would tell you they lived the life they wanted. So, it’s not about how big your car is, or how much money you accumulate.
It’s how you live each day, each moment. When you turn out the lights each night and tally up the day was it a day that for the most part you were proud of?
And then when that day comes when the big light is shut off, will you be able to say, sorry it’s over, but it was a life well lived.
Tracey Jackson is a screenwriter and blogger at traceyjacksononline.com. Her book Gratitude and Trust is now available.