I think that this simple question encapsulates a key element of the divide that keeps getting deeper in society. There are those of us who want to get busy living and those that are so focused on avoiding death they've forsaken Living for some amount of time (aka get busy dying).
I feel so good right now. Like, maybe the best I've ever felt in my life. I feel free and light and content and happy and creative... well, you get the idea.
But believe me, this has not always been the case and even in very recent times was not how I felt. In 2019 I may have appeared "fine" when I was with most people, but inside I had a huge battle going on inside of me. I was researching the you-know-whats just about every day. I wept and agonized and read and thought (and thought and thought.) It was not an easy year.
And then, of course, 2020 came! Personally 2020-early 2021 had some very difficult challenges for me. My dad was diagnosed with cancer, we got an official confirmation that Carter is on the autism spectrum AND lockdowns started THE EXACT WEEK he was going to begin a program, one of my best and oldest friends "unfriended" me on social media and in "real life", my grandpa was hospitalized and then died months later, and finally in January 2021 one of my best friends and soul sisters died from overdose.
But honestly, I dealt pretty well with most of it, and I attribute my ability to cope with the work I had done in the months and years leading up to 2020. The hardest things were losing friends, becoming estranged from loved ones and making a decision to move.
I'm going to tell you something you don't want to hear - what you fear, very well could happen.
I was so scared - of having to move again, of losing loved ones, and of us losing our jobs. And so far 2/3 of those things have happened. And the third, losing our jobs, is a very real possibility in the near future.
And yet - all of these things I was scared of happening were possibly the best thing that could have happened to me. Moving has gotten me and my energy moving in a whole new way, losing my friend and other loved ones has made me braver and more open than ever... and so what I lost has turned out to be some of the biggest gifts of my life.
So if you are feeling... obsessed, scared, anxious, alone, stressed, and just generally not good about life - I understand. I've been there. And I'm here to tell you - it won't last forever because that is the nature of Life - things change. And also - there are things that you are in control of that can help you navigate whatever it is challenging you in your life.
I believe at the top of the list are three things: Knowledge, Intuition, and Community. When we get really grounded in these things our lives transform in beautiful ways we can't even imagine. I will keep sharing how I've been able to walk this path and continue to practice what helps when I get thrown back into old mindsets and habits.
Sending love to you all! Get busy Living Today - I know you can do it!
08/22/22
Get Busy Living
Inspired by "The Shawshank Redemption" this question - whether we are busy living or dying - encapsulates the divide in our world today.
9 Comments
2 years ago
Loved it, thank you for your insights.
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2 years ago
Living or dieing is our choice.
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2 years ago
I too loved this message. When people tell me "Your so strong, I could never have dealt with what you went through" I tell them " You never know what you CAN do until you have to". Its nice to hear we are not alone in these times. Thank you for writing this!
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2 years ago
Excellently well stated! I look forward to your next article.
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2 years ago
Very good article, love your message.
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2 years ago
Great article, inspiring and really makes you think about what's important in life. Thanks for sharing!
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2 years ago
Wow. What a powerful message. I love the hope you offer in your article. Yes, life can be tough but it’s often the tough times that shape who we are. Thank you for your vulnerability.
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2 years ago
What a great article! I really enjoyed it. Caught my eye because of the Shawshank Redemption image and message "get busy living". Awesome! And thank you for posting it. I think many people need to hear this powerful message.
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LindaN
2 years ago