New Experiences: A Key to Living the Life You Really Want?
We all have our images of a perfect life, don’t we? Maybe it’s living in New York, eating all kinds of amazing food, and catching the latest shows on a whim. On the other hand, maybe your ideal life involves sitting on a rocking chair, watching the wind blow by, and having endless hours to be creative. Here’s the kicker: we don’t know what we really want until we try it.
Perfect Dreams Can Make a Terrible Reality
For a long time, I dreamed of days where I did nothing but focus on writing. If I ever got there, I would savor the calm, the control, and the freedom. Then I tried it. Turns out, I kinda hate being a self-employed writer. Time for a new dream life, apparently!
Of course, you don’t have to test run your dreams to build a life you can live passionately. Often, just getting out of our homes and routines is enough. You might not know that you have a burning desire to sing karaoke every night until a friend of a friend randomly invites you to come along. You might realize that you adore cooking while taking care of your injured spouse. You never know what inspirations and new discoveries you’ll make when you try new things, and that’s absolutely the best argument I can make for it.
Go on the Hunt for Pieces of Your Puzzle
Imagine your life as a giant puzzle, with pieces that have been scattered everywhere. If you stay in the same place for most of your time, you’ll have access to quite a few of those pieces, which you can snap in place whenever you want. But as you try new things and step outside your comfort zone occasionally, you can run across some of those scattered pieces, making your puzzle a bit more complete.
For me, I found an unexpected piece of my puzzle when I agreed to a camping trip. I’d never been camping (not dirt camping, at least) and had no reason to think that I would enjoy it. The hell with it, though, I thought. I’ll give this thing a try. And it was awesome! The hard ground beneath me, the sound of waves lapping up on the shore below, trekking to the portable bathrooms… I loved it all. I was lucky enough to find another hidden piece of my puzzle. My ideal life is one with camping retreats where I can get away from it all, and enjoy a fan-freakin-tastic shower when it’s all over.
Living Beyond Dreams
The final word for me on the subject of living is just that: living. You have to actually live your life for it to be everything you’ve always wanted. You can’t just dream it. Even if that means discovering that what you thought you wanted and what you actually want are polar opposites, it’s a great adventure.
On to the discussion: any hints for finding those unexpected passions and pleasures? Any good stories about finding the pieces of your ideal life? Please share them and let the rest of us learn from your experiences!
photo credit: TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³
Similar Posts:
- Redefining the American Dream
- What Could You Accomplish If You Truly Freed Yourself?
- What’s Your Definition of Simplicity?
- Three Essential Life Skills for a Simple Life
- Simple Sharing: I Totally Ate Spinach Edition
This post has 13 comments
March 17th, 2009
I hated dancing until I literally stopped caring and just went for it
Now I love dancing haha (not professionally, just in clubs etc). You’re right, you never know what you love until you go for it and give it a try.
Great post Sara!
Cheers,
Glen
Glen Allsopps last blog post..The Realisation that Will Dramatically Change Your World
March 17th, 2009
Hi Sara,
One thing that helped me in discovering unexpected passions and pleasures was that ten year ago, I sat down with a huge stack of magazines and ripped out all the pictures that somehow I felt a connection to. Once I was done, I looked through all the pictues and I saw a common theme throughout them all.
All the pictures I ripped out reflected a very carefree, creative, laid back way of life and my life was nothing like that so I started to make small changes from clothes to friends and so on. I never took another look at those pictures until last year. Now my life looks like those pictures and I feel more myself. I still am working on a few things like switching careers but overall, life is much better now.
Life is definitely a journey and I think your statement about the “hunt for the pieces of your puzzle” is perfect!
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Truly Secure
March 17th, 2009
I love the idea of literally ‘finding myself’ through exploration and experimentation at home and around the globe. Before I went to college, an aunt advised me to just say yes to every opportunity that came up for the first month. I met so many people and discovered so many new parts of the world.
This is a good reminder to maintain that open mindset and try everything once. Great post.
March 17th, 2009
I find focusing on the little things in life, like the kids laughing in the back seat of the car making silly noises to amuse the baby really cheer me up. Yes, it is annoying sometimes after about 5 minutes, but then I think, one day they will be older and will not want to play with their little sister, isn’t that so sweet that they want to now. I will miss this, I think to myself. It really does make me change my attitude, which I think is the key to enjoying life — the attitude we bring to the circumstances around us. We can’t control anything but ourselves.
Taylor at Household Management 101s last blog post..Mar 17, Top Ten Spring Cleaning Safety Tips
March 17th, 2009
As an experienced sunburner, I couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to go to a beach and sit under the sun. Hot and sticky. Ugh.
A few years ago, a friend invited me to go to Mexico with her for a quick four-day getaway. She’s a good friend and I figured four days wouldn’t kill me. Or would it? I really wasn’t sure.
Anyway, now I understand why people go to the beach and sit under the sun. I understand so well that I do it annually – and take my bottles SPF 30 along with me (which I’ll also have on hand when I go to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
).
Laurie | Express Yourself to Successs last blog post..Good Reads: Happiness
March 17th, 2009
Camping? Woo Hoo! We love it as a family but don’t get out nearly as much as we used to. My job just eats too much time right now.
When it comes to new experiences, I’m always game … especially with food. It never ceases to amaze me the people that will live their entire lives and eat the same ole same ole, never getting out of their comfort zone.
Gimme something DIFFERENT!
Ron@TheWisdomJournals last blog post..10 Places You Don’t Need A Good Credit Score
March 17th, 2009
Hi Sara,
I find it very true what you said – we don’t know what we want or don’t want until we try it. When I started blogging I had no clue what it was about or whether I would like it. After half a year I have a better idea and will be able to made better decisions on whether and how I will move forward in this area.
Daphnes last blog post..Can You Become Richer In A Recession?
March 17th, 2009
…and the ironic thing is that I think most people find their ideal life by accident!
Christophers last blog post..Inspirational Video – The Laws of Attraction & More
March 17th, 2009
Sara, I didn’t know I liked writing until I had a blog. I didn’t know I would love birds until my sister started feeding them. I hated cats until my daughter got a Bengal. So you never know!
Stephen – Rat Race Traps last blog post..Top 10 Ways To Stop Killing Yourself With Choices
March 17th, 2009
It’s funny how we’ll put up such strong resistances to new ideas and concepts when we haven’t even given things a go yet. Perhaps we have become too comfortable in our comfort zone and do not welcome trying anything new! Yes, I often find that I discover treasures in areas that I never thought possible before.
Evelyn Lims last blog post..How To Ground Yourself In 7 Ways
March 17th, 2009
I was thinking that I’d never tried anything I expected to hate, only to find that I loved it.
But then I remembered that I used to HATE sports, until my older son started playing soccer and I found I enjoyed watching the games & volunteering as team mom.
By the time son #2 started playing I got licensed to coach, which I did from U6 – U10, 2 seasons a year. The younger one plays high school Varsity now, as well as a premier club team – year round soccer and I never miss a game.
Oh, and the cat thing… I never liked cats until one adopted us and moved in. (This was not a decision on MY part – it just happened!) I cried for days when she died 3 years later and went out and got a kitten…
So who knows what we’ll like, given a chance to try it.
March 19th, 2009
When a new opportunity comes my way, I always ask myself the question: Will I regret it later if I don’t give this a try? If the answer is yes, then I do it. This has meant I have switched programs in university, moved across the country twice, married at 18, directed plays at local festivals and gone to Ireland with an 11 month old in tow. None of which I have regretted.
Also, if something is not working anymore, I ask myself what needs to change — my situation or my attitude. Sometimes I’ve just picked up bad habits of thought that I need to change. Other times, it is just time to move on to a new hobby or job or friend. I’m a bit of a free spirit, so I don’t know if this would work for everyone, though.
jills last blog post..A sticky situation
March 19th, 2009
Great post and an important reminder about “why” we’re here: To learn, live and experiment. To do and be.
And as one poster said, you often do indeed find your life by accident.
What’s of concern these days is that so many of us self-censor our dreams and those random “hmmm. What about X?”
the cost of things in time and resources often means we put the kabosh on trying something (say travel, dancing lessons, etc.)unless we are fairly certain we will like it or that it will “work.”
We don’t celebrate the sheer act of personal exploration and adventure. Especially in tough times.
We don’t want to take foolish risks, but we do need to take some risks to find out what this life is all about.
A lot of folks are afraid of being labeled a personal or professional dilletante because they have many interests, passions, etc.
As long as you’re not putting others at risk (indulging your dreams at the expense of your family’s well-being, for example), I say: Why not try it?
Do we really want to leave the planet without giving it our best shot?
As we see daily, life can be tough and short. So focus on what you’d love to try and go for it.
If it doesn’t work, so what? There will, if you look close, always be light.
I think, for example, of some jobs that were less than great. In each, there was something of value, usually some great people that I met or some unique personal experiences (world travel, new skills).
Something may not be “all good” but even our “mistakes” or wrong turns can lead to gold.
Add a comment