No excuses

I spent the weekend in Grand Marais, where I met a number of people who were living in different extremes of being "off the grid".  

One woman took "off the grid" to new heights.  She lives in a small cabin in the woods with no electricity or running water.  She uses propane for lights, which sounds like the most modern thing she has.  Not living on a lake, she hauls water and washes using a traditional wash basin.  

Another man left the cities 20 years ago to pursue his passion - drawing.  He makes absolutely beautiful pen and ink drawings - some on paper, some on birch bark.  He has a small home, works making signs for local shops, and sells his drawings and occasional water colors every weekend with other town artists and craftsman in the town square.

What struck me with both of these individuals was the sense that I was talking to someone completely content with their life.  I was impressed with their dedication to living the life they truly wanted.  In awe of their willingness to take that leap.  And curious about the days and years leading up to the point when they just made the move.  

Did they have a plan, or did they just leap?  Did they set their sights on other goals, that would position them for this complete departure from our 20th century fast-paced life or did they throw caution to the wind, letting the chips... and their future... fall where they may? 

And does it mean because I am laying the groundwork, working the plan that will take me into the next phase of my life where I can do more of the things I've dreamt of doing, that I'm not living the life I want?

I don't think so.  I think that I am living the life I want to live.  The life my choices have led me to.
  
Like everyone else, I don't get to chose all the things that life throws my way, but I do chose my response.  I chose to be a mother, by far one of the best choices I made.  I chose what kind of daughter I wanted to be, what kind of friend and what kind of person I wanted to be.  And sometimes, those choices being most important to me, I chose to re-prioritize some of my goals, knowing that it was possible that being the kind of parent, daughter, friend, person I wanted to be might mean that some of those other goals might have to take a back-seat, or might never be realized at all.  

But I'm okay with that -  because at the end of the day, I am truly living the life I want to live.  And I haven't let go of my dreams and my goals... I've just put them in the right priority for me.  

I would like to write a book... or two.  I would like to go back to school, become a therapist and use what I've experienced to help others.  I would like to travel more with my daughter.  

Too often we get in the mind set that if we haven't realized our goals, then we aren't living the life we want - but the truth is, each decision we make reflects the life we want.  And when we really want to make something different happen in our lives, we will be willing to take the steps necessary to do so and we will prioritize doing them above other things that would otherwise stand in our way.

And there will be no excuses. 

If you don't have the life you want or don't want the life you have - then the choice is all yours: you can change your mind, or change your life.