Everyday for me is a fight. Usually against myself, sometimes against our societal norms. I struggle with focusing on connecting on the things that matter most to me in my life and making those a priority. There are good days and not so good days. I want to live a life that spends most of my time in the living moment, focused on what matters most, and less that brings fear, distractions, and emptiness. I want a soul filling life and journey. I want everyone to have a soul filling living journey. My hope is to connect with others, to hear their living stories, their fight to hold on to the gift, and honoring what matters most to them. I want to remember what it feels to live. This work is what is keeping me connected, reminding me of the gift of life and what is possible. To continue to see and find the inspiration within us and around us.
When we were growing up, my father had a chalk board that he would write on – usually a quote, this board hung up in our kitchen. His parents immigrated from Ireland and he had a passion and love for soccer. He coached my brother, sister and me in soccer. When I was growing up, Queen was often on the radio and he would often use the songs as “tough love encouragement” to psyche us up for games. He would write on the chalkboard and sing “We are the Champions.” That song will always be his song that I carry with me. Interestingly, as I am now older, the song has taken on a new meaning in his death. My father worked hard so that we could have a better life. He wanted more for us than what we wanted for ourselves or that we knew could exist. He wanted us to have a good education, work hard, learn, read, have a life that he did not. He wanted us to take in all that life had to offer. Now when I listen to the song, I hear the lyrics, and “We’ll Keep On Fighting Until the End” to remind me of what my father believed. That I need to fight for what I have known all along, a more alive and fully realized me and we.
While my fight until the end may look a little different today than my father’s although I do promise that I will keep fighting for the better, that I know exists and is possible, for me and for every human heart and soul – past, present and future. [EC1] [EC2]
Here are some recommendations and what I try to practice to live a life that balances both the Gift (The Knowing) and the everyday business of life.
- This is an on-going learning and practice.
- This work – connecting, hearing, and learning about people’s experiences, in service of bigger purpose
- In service of others – giving
- Focus on professional and personal life work that makes me feel alive reminding me and connecting me with of my all of my potential
- Setting boundaries to allow me to live my fulfilled life, aligned with my values
- Spending time writing, reflecting, and listening
- Being outside in the presence of nature and life
- Connecting to music that reminds me of life experiences
What have you learned through your living experiences? What have you found in your loss – whatever that looks like for you?