Are You Living the Life of Your Dreams?

https://quotefancy.com/quote/763/Socrates-The-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living

This is a quote most of us have heard before. What does it really mean? Why is it so important for us to examine our lives? Socrates might have had time to examine his life, but he didn't have texts and emails to answer, deadlines, kids to take to activities, phones chiming to remind him of the next event on his calendar.

We might think we don't have time to examine our lives. But what is the alternative? Should we continue rushing through the daily, weekly, monthly grind peppered with a few holidays and parties only to arrive at the end of our lives wondering what it was all about?

Sometimes it is great to take a step back (or step out of) our daily routine and think about our lives. Are we doing work that we love, that makes us excited about life and feeds our souls? Are we taking care of our health and feeling energetic and able to do the things we want? Are we happy with our relationships with our spouse? Family? Friends? Do we know what matters most to us in life? Is it the things that matter most that we are giving our time and energy to?

Taking time to reflect on our lives might not be a priority when we have so many other time-sensitive commitments on our calendars, but if we can carve out some time to reflect on what it is we want most in life, we are much more likely to get it.

Don't you want to take some time and imagine life as you would like it to be? What would you be doing? Who would be with you? What would make you feel excited about getting out of bed every day? Your dreams can be big or small. You might already love your life but what could you do to enhance it even more? Sometimes it only takes small changes to make a big difference.

Take one minute today to look at your calendar and make a date with yourself to daydream about your life. You can write ideas down or find pictures that capture the idea of what you want and make a vision board. You might write down a goal or think of a plan. It might spark a great conversation with your kids or your spouse or a friend.

Your life is worth living, so why not examine it and make it the best life possible!

Find Your Passion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ7d_WmJcXU

If you have not seen Steve Harvey's show, Little Big Shots, do yourself a favour and watch an episode. What I love about the show is being able to see these young children who have found their passion in life at such an early age. It is amazing how talented these kids are. I can't help but admire and envy them at the same time.

I have always been a person who is good at many things, but not exceptional at any one thing. I used to think that it would be wonderful to know what my one great gift was and to pursue it and make it my life's vocation. If you have a great gift like that, I hope you nurture it and share it with the world.

If you haven't found it, it is not too late. It might not be just one thing and you might not be the best in the world at it. The important thing is that you use your gifts. That is what you are meant to do with them.

For me, I think one of my gifts is being willing to try new things. I may never be incredibly talented at just one thing, but I can be moderately talented at many things. My passion is having new and interesting experiences at every stage of life. That is part of what makes life exciting for me.

Whether you have one main passion or many, do something everyday with your gifts and passions and share your joie de vie with the world. It might not change the world, but it will change your world in a very positive way.

Spring is a Fresh Start

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This is the time of year when I feel like I am coming out of hibernation. I want to walk and run outdoors. I love seeing children outside playing. I see people I haven't seen since the fall coming out of their houses and enjoying the world around them.

Mentally, I feel like I am coming out of hibernation as well. I feel ready to tackle new projects: Spring Cleaning, A New Book, A New Health Regime! Suddenly I have more energy and am ready to take on challenges that seemed too heavy during the winter months.

Spring is the time for rebirth. What is something that you would love to start this Spring? What is something that would make you feel more alive, more excited about your life? It doesn't have to be big. Even contemplating something you would like to do is a step toward achieving it.

I'd love to hear any about the any seeds you'd like to plant for yourself this Spring!

Fresh Start

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It's the new year and time for starting fresh. The new year feels like a blank page waiting to be written on, a new journal to be broken in or fresh untouched snow. Like many other people, I love to start the year by reviewing the previous year and making plans and goals for the the upcoming year. The beginning of January feels so hopeful and exciting. But even a few days into January or later in the month I sometimes feel deflated if I have already veered off course with my great plans. So this year I am going try to maintain my enthusiasm by remembering that it's not just the year that is fresh, every day is a fresh start. If I go off course with my goals and resolutions one day, all is not lost. I can start fresh the next day and get back on track with my desired life.

Over the holidays one of the best moments for me was watching my favourite movie, Anne of Green Gables, with my whole family. For me that was extraordinary because my husband and son rarely like to watch anything other than sports. It made me so happy to introduce them to Anne Shirley, who feels more like a "true kindred spirit" to me than a fictional character. I love Anne's zest for life and willingness to take risks, make mistakes and live a life that is thrilling to her. Anne is so passionate about life and her imagination knows no bounds. She makes terrible mistakes but learns from them. One quote I love from her is, "That's the good thing about me, I never make the same mistake twice."

So as I embark on this fresh new year with all my big dreams and aspirations, I will carry Anne's spirit with me and know that if things don't always go according to plan or I fail to do all the things I set out to do, all is not lost. I have an opportunity each day to start fresh and keep taking the small steps that lead to a life I love living every day! I hope you will too!

I'd love to hear any big goals or dreams you have for yourself in the new year. Writing dreams down and sharing them with others helps bring them to life.

The Gift!

https://www.ted.com/talks/stacey_kramer_the_best_gift_i_ever_survived?language=en

This Ted Talk by Stacey Kramer is just over 3 minutes long and has a surprising twist. Without giving it all away, she speaks of this amazing gift that she received that changed her life in many ways. But it is not a gift any of us would like to receive. Sometimes the things we don't want, have a gift in them if we look for it.

In this season of gift giving, look for the hidden gifts that have come to you over the years. Sometimes a job loss leads to the most rewarding career, the break-up to a better relationship, the disaster that made you start life all over forced you to create a new, amazing life.

When life gives you something that you don't want but you have no control over it, then try embracing it and look for the gift. It is not easy to do but you have nothing to lose. Sometimes the gift isn't evident at first, but if you look hard enough, you can find it.

What is something that you first perceived as horrible that later on served you well? What "problems" in your life today can you view as gifts?

Connection is the cure!

https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong?language=en

https://paulaverdicchio.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/connection.jpg

A friend mentioned she had seen an interesting Ted Talk on addiction and I decided to look it up today. I love watching Ted Talks for inspiration and information. They are all great but this is an exceptional one. Do yourself a favour and click on the link under the image for the Ted Talk and watch this video clip? It looks at addiction in a new way. Instead of judging loved ones or ourselves harshly for our addictions, it points out that the root of addictions is lack of connection. Connection is our fundamental human need. With it, we thrive and without it, we fail to survive.

As we approach this busy holiday season, it can get stressful when we focus on the presents and decorations and all the details that we think make up Christmas. But as every sweet and sappy Christmas movie points out, the purpose of Christmas is about connection. It's about connecting with our loved ones, connecting with ourselves and our spirit.

What are some ways that you connect with loved ones at Christmas? Do you have any quiet time during the holidays to connect with yourself? What is something that you could do today to foster your connection with someone you love?

Getting Back on Track

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I chose these quotes today for myself. After being out of my home for 2 weeks while getting some renovations done, I found it hard to get back into my daily routine. It was a challenge to manage our family's crazy schedule while being away and out of sync with the routines that make it possible for us to do all that we do. So my message today is for me and maybe it will resonate with you. 

Whenever I go on a holiday or something comes up that changes our daily rhythm, it takes awhile to get back on track. But I know how to get back on track from many years of experience. And that is what I am doing today by getting back into my blogging routine. Sometimes it helps to pick one habit that you want to welcome back into your life and then slowly add others. If you put too much pressure on yourself to try to do everything, you'll only end up disappointing yourself.

What are some things that you do to help yourself get back on-track with living your best life? I'd really like to know. Share your comments below.

Today, acknowledge yourself for your healthy habits and good routines. If you feel like something is missing, take one small step to bring the missing element into your life (or back into your life). Enjoy the opportunity to make today the best day of your life - and doing that every day leads to an amazing life!