Choose and Live

"How much of human life is lost in waiting?" Henry David Thoreau

Today, this quote truly resonates with me. I have friends that are experiencing some life altering stuff at the moment, positive, negative, and challenging. I also just recently met someone during my stay here in Aspen just to discover that they died in a tragic accident just a few days ago. Life and Death. 

I am reminded that we have to decide how we want to live our life. Do we want to wait until the right moment or should we risk everything just to find joy and contentment? How can we overcome obstacles and what should we do when we feel as if an avalanche of bullshit is attacking us at every turn? In the midst of each of these extremes, how can we choose the light? Even better, how can we find the light within us to shield away even the darkest of days?

For some, the darkness represents a challenge of faith and test of our courage. For some, the darkness represents unresolved issues that need our attention. And there is that darkness, that results from us being around toxic individuals who have lessons to learn, and their darkness spills over into our lives due to proximity. Each of these can create a chaos and at times it can feel as if it will never end or that we are being punished. Maybe we are simply being challenged to pay attention. Now to what can only be determined by what you have been ignoring in the first place. 

This is when you choose life. Choose you. Choose love. Choose to push your faith towards a place of peace and calm. In other words, life should bring you more joy than pain. It should bring more laughter than tears. And when you look into a stranger's face, you should be able to share a story that brings smiles rather than nonchalance.

Keep the quote close to your heart. Let it resonate each time you make a decision. Should I be in this relationship? Should I take this job? Should I allow this new friendship/partnership? Should I participate in this new project? Each time you wake up, decide what you want and move towards that purpose. Life can be so much easier when you are not mired down with the false expectations of others, and when you can take a few seconds to not get bogged down in bitterness or regret. I believe that this life is only possible when you choose better. And that can only happen by living, through the good, bad and the ugly.