THE YEARS AHEAD
Life is short and it's too easy to let it run away from you while you are trying to be all things to all people. As a woman I think it becomes a snare and an obligation where you can allow yourself to be taken for granted and lose yourself in the process.
We forget that we have choices - more choices than women our age have ever had. It's time to use those choices to decide how to spend the years ahead wisely.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE DYING
Why wait until you're on your death bed to realize that you should have lived your life differently? Why not start now and put some positive energy into living a life that is so rich and full that it leaves you with no regrets when it's time to leave this earth behind? All five of these regrets are so simple to overcome with only minor changes to how we live our lives. Basically they come down to living a life that is simple and relational.
So, I made a list of the top five resolutions for a regret free life. Maybe these would be a good place to start:
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
It's time to take stock of who your authentic self is and be true to your values (if you don't know what they are then now is a good time to look into your heart and find out what really matters to you.) If you are living an authentic life then your happiness level will increase automatically - how could you not be happy when you are accepting of yourself and in a good head space?
INVEST IN OTHERS
We need to invest ourselves in our family and friendships, we need to tell others that we love them and share how they make us feel. Don't let an opportunity pass by where you could tell someone how much they mean to you. Friendships and family take time and emotional investment but what we reap from that is priceless.
FIND A JOB YOU LIKE
Finally, why are we killing ourselves in jobs we don't like? Don't look back and regret these last years of working life as time spent in the salt mines of life. Make some changes - work less hours if you can, or change jobs if you need to. If you can't change your job - make sure you can find the good parts of your current job to focus on and invest in. Killing yourself in a job to make more money to spend on things you don't really need seems to be a major regret - so why do it?
SMILE!
Life is short and nobody wants to die with regrets - let's live life to the full and go out with a smile of contentment on our faces!
Isn't that the truth! Living someone else's expectations does not make for a happy life.Good points Leanne
ReplyDeletethanks Haralee - I thought it was pretty simple to wipe out all five regrets with a little change of direction.
DeleteYou are so right, Leanne! Sometimes my husband and I feel as if our life is running us. But we rail against that by enjoying what we have and being mindful of it. Great advice!
ReplyDeleteI agree Cathy - life is short and we need to be mindful of that and not waste the years ahead and end up wishing we'd enjoyed life more!
DeleteLife seems to be going faster and faster and I definitely have been paying more attention to all the things you mention above. Maybe I recognize these things more that I'm getting older, but intend to not let the special moments slip through the cracks.
ReplyDeletethat's so true Laurie - I think it comes back to basics and living authentic lives - not trying to be all things to all people.
DeleteGreat post. It's so easy to get lost in the shuffle of the every day that we forget that life is passing us by. Thanks for the reminder to do something TODAY that is meaningful to me.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that the things people regret the most are so easy to fix during our lives Jamie - we just need to remember them and go for it!
DeleteStop. Take a breath. And CHANGE MY DIRECTION! Perfect!
ReplyDeleteit's really about simplicity and caring about others Diane - I think you'd be good at both :)
DeleteYes! YES! YES!!!! You know I believe all this Leanne--but I can always use a daily reminder. Thank you for pointing out that I get to choose to be happy today no-matter-what! My happiness is not dependent upon anyone else, unless I let it be. I fully intend to "go out" with a smile on my face!
ReplyDeleteYou are really the guru on all this Kathy but sometimes we forget and it's nice to have a motivation for smiling - go for it :)
DeleteLeanne, you are my other half. It is only in the past few years that I have begun to realize all this. I think we need a few years under our belts to fully mature into these beliefs. (Am I using the wrong analogies here, because my belt is getting bigger all the time..lol)
ReplyDeletemy belt is increasing in size too Mary - but so is my heart (I hope) and as I change my focus it all just makes so much sense - shame it took me 50 years to figure it out!
DeleteEvery day is a day full of decisions. Let's start making the ones that make us and only us happy. Very meaningful post:)
ReplyDeleteAbby
If we are happy then it has to rub off on others around us Abby - I know who I'd sooner hang out with - happy people are attractive aren't they :)
DeleteI love this, I wrote a post recently called 'create a life you love' which had the same sentiment. You're right, life is short and it's so important to be true to yourself.
ReplyDeleteRebecca from The Sparkle Nest x
Now I'll have to find your post Rebecca and have a read :) thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI was reading each paragraph feeling like jumping up and down in my chair.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
I had forgotten the taste of living happy and doing what I love which is helping people. I'm so thankful for rediscovering this feeling.
Thank you so much for sharing it, Leanne!
my pleasure Debbie - it is such a good feeling when your life is making you happy and fulfilled - you have taken mighty leaps in that direction and must be so proud of your efforts :)
DeleteSpot on Leanne we need to be living life now! Too late after we have gone. Thanks for linking up and reminding us to start living #WednesdaysWisdom
ReplyDeletemy pleasure Sue - I think you've come to the same conclusions as me - no regrets!
DeleteSometimes my biggest fear is that I realized that life is to short just a little to late. When I can't do anything about it. I want to soar but I'm tethered to the ground. I hope there is time left for me one day, but after that comes the guilt because exactly what am I wishing for?
ReplyDeleteI know Rena - I read a post by a girl in her late 20's that spoke about focusing on the good stuff and getting rid of the baggage etc - she caught on much quicker than I did. Luckily we've still got a good 50 (?) years left so there's still time to soar!
DeleteSuch a good idea to have a personal manifesto. I think 5 things is perfect number, not too many to remember but definitely enough things to make a real difference when you stick to them all. You may have inspired me to think about my own 5 resolutions! #abitofeverything
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn - I figured if there were five major regrets of the dying it would make sense to have five resolutions to make sure those regrets don't happen to me!
DeleteLeanne, those 5 things are great items to remember and to achieve. I have come to know myself more during my 40s than ever. I have come to understand myself more, love myself, and decided that although it hurts me when others don't approve, I cannot give up who I am . I'm the one that has to live with me each and every moment, and I want to live with someone I respect! It takes us women a long time to get there, but once we do, watch out world!!! Go get 'em!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right Leanne. You have this 100% spot on. I'm really lucky that both of my jobs I really love but it's hard keeping a balance of these against everything else. Friends and family and the relationships that come out of these definitely come first. Always!
ReplyDeleteSally @ Life Loving
#LifeLovingLinkie
agree with your post;and its so true; why live to meet somebody's expectations, nothing like being true to self, and giving expressions to what one loves; and yes spending time with family friends is a joy. thanks for sharing !
ReplyDeleteI think about this often. I don't know if I ever do anything about it. Thanks for making me think again!
ReplyDelete