Uncover Your Why;Secrets of Simplicity

If time, money, and opportunity did not limit you – what would you do? Where would you live? What would your life look like? If you had 24 hours to completely change your life what would you keep? What would you set aside? What would you focus on? What lifelong dreams would you set to accomplish… if there were no limits?

 

What would it feel like to restart, redo and relaunch your life with unlimited possibility and potential? Take a moment;brainstorm and write down 10 things you would do, experience or accomplish if you had opportunity. No matter it feels impossible… just close your eyes, take five minutes and imagine. Have fun with it! Remember- no limits. Day dream possibilities. No judging from your scathing internal critic who lurks at the edges of our dreams on a regular basis shouting failure in the loudest of whispers.

What if the 24 hours you had to change your life, were the last 24 you had on this earth ? How might your response be different? 

Perhaps a more telling answer, might come from those who work with a different segment of humanity. Those who are at the end of their lives, and are now looking back at the life they have lived. A little time spent on google, and I was able to gather the following thoughts from some who are either at the end of their own lives or worked in palative care with those who found themselves experiencing their final days and weighing regret in the balance.

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me 

When people realize life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people hav not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing it was a result of choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. 

Many people hold back feelings to keep peace with others. As a result, they settle for a mediocre existence and never became who they are truly capable of becoming. Many develop illnesses related to the  bitterness and resentment they carry from a lifetime of unforgiveness and regret.

3. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends

Many confide they had become so caught up in their own lives they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. Many express deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

4. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not understand until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotional as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to themselves, they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh outrageously and have silliness in their life again.

Several years ago our family was rocked to the deepest part of our souls when Amanda, our beautiful 29-year-old daughter, pregnant with her fifth child suffered a devastating stroke. I lived in Michigan, she and her precious family in Arizona. Brokenhearted, with tears on my face and prayers on my lips, I left on the first plane out of town to help her husband care for their precious children and support them in whatever small way I could through this terrible time.

A few days after arriving, I was helping with some household tasks. After looking in multiple drawers and closets, I asked my oldest grandson, 8-year-old Jayden where mama keeps all of their clean socks and underwear. No matter where I looked I could not find enough to replace the ones they used each day. “Nana, they are in mama and daddy’s room.”… I opened the door to their room and there I found a LARGE pile of clean but unfolded clothes. I stood there, a big lump in my throat as I realized what that colorful collection represented to this little family.

I did not see laundry, but instead, time and love. I slipped to the floor, with tears yet again, streaming down my face. My arms reached to gather the now wrinkled pile of clothes and buried my face deep into the array of socks, little boy underwear, maternity t-shirts, toddler shorts, sheets and towels to muffle my sobs.

Sometimes work undone shouts love louder than folded clothes.

• her “little” brother had visited her for a week leaving Arizona less than 24 hours before she was stricken.
• a childs birthday was celebrated
• trips to Starbucks for iced coffee
• hikes
• fresh peaches picked,
• swimming at the neighborhood pool
• countless walks
• a lunar eclipse in the sky
• laughter with her sweet husband
• a phone call with happy birthday wishes to me less than 4 hours before the stroke- priceless
• time spent, love shown and spoken, was worth far more than silver or a basket of folded clothes

 

Challenge for Today- a little different from our decluttering diva mode of the last few days- relationships and the dreams we hide in our hearts are the focus.

• Are there friendships you treasure but have neglected?
• Do you have forgiveness you need to give or recive?
• Does the time you spend with others reflect what is in your heart?
• Do those you love know how precious they are to you?
• What might you do to shout love to those close to you who need you?

 

• Dreams tucked away can be unpacked again.
• What dream have you pushed away as not possible?
•  Unwrap it and look at it again.
• Just look at it. That’s all for today.

I would be happy inside and out if you would  invite your friends to join us on our 31 day journey, send them our link and invite them to uncover more life to love with less!  You will find a place to sign up on the top right of the screen if you would like to have Secrets of Simplicity delivered to your inbox through the month of October. One of you will receive a special gift at the end of our journey!  Blessings my friends!