Live Your Life

I read this on someone else's blog today: 

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." ~ Steve Jobs

It seems to be my theme these days. I get comments from friends and acquaintances all the time encouraging me to keep living the way that I do. Many tell me that they live vicariously through me by reading my blog or listening to me tell a story, or that they admire my sense of adventure, or my courage. It's a little bewildering because it just feels "normal" to me. This is my life. Some have said: "It's truly amazing Melanie, most of us could not live with such uncertainty." Well, actually, sometimes I can't either, and I drive myself crazy trying to figure out what's next. Or where the next paycheck will come from. Or, the big one right now.... where will I live come November when my condo sitting gig is up? Of course there are those as well that worry about my well being. Some like to kindly remind me that I am not getting any younger? Really? I feel young! 50 years young!! When I listen to them I worry too. I feel like I'm just not fitting into this world, or perhaps just this society. But then I'll hear from someone else saying: " Keep the faith that you're doing the right thing." Or this from a friend after I got paid to lead a group on a hike: "Hope you had a wonderful time today getting paid to do what you love best. And it makes me happy to know that for now, since you are housesitting, you are free to work a little less and spend the bulk of your time living your life to the fullest.  You do it well." 

I wish I had the words of a poem I heard someone recite/ rap last Friday night at The Bridge in Belmont. If I come across it I will post it later. It seemed to have been written just for me. But, it was written for all of us! Life is too short to work all the time, or more importantly, to work at a job that you dislike, that brings you down. Oh, there has to be a balance of work and play for sure, with perhaps a little more leaning to the play side ; ) It's worked for me for seven years now; The Universe supports me in all that I do. I always manage to land on my feet, to keep my head above water, and to support myself through this wonderful life. 

Just rambling for today... 

Here are a couple more favorite quotes:

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love, it will not lead you astray." ~ Rumi

"Let go of who everyone thinks you should be in order to be who you are. Honor yourself, be true to your spirit." ~ I can't find who said that, it may have just been something I wrote in my journal after someone reminded me of the fact that I'm not getting any younger! 

Happy Day~ OX