A Peek into My Life Journey – Experiences and Quotes
A Peek into My Life Journey – Experiences and Quotes
A more personal post about things that have made my life journey way better
Life is a journey, not a destination. That’s what all the motivational quotes, poems and speakers say, isn’t it? It’s what you’re meant to keep in mind when your clothing doesn’t fit, or when you run into a total twat who’s trying to crap all over your day, or – and it goes on.
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Over the years I’ve tried to internalize that message as much as possible and enjoy the journey of life. And surprisingly, it has helped make my outlook on like better. My favourite life journey quote, by Catherine Pulsifer, says it better than I could:
Life is an opportunity, seize the day, live each day to the fullest. Life is not a project, but a journey to be enjoyed. – Catherine Pulsifer
I remember this quote every time I have a bit of a wobble. I’m not 100% there yet, but I have had some great experiences that have made my road through life more beautiful.
Experiences are specific to a person’s own path and journey through life. But sharing is caring, so here’s what I’ve picked up on the way.
1. Saving for a rainy day
I’ve always been a saver, but it’s not until later in life that I appreciated it.
Crap happens, but having a little financial safety net has helped cushion my journey through life. To that end, I like to keep this quote in mind:
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffet
The biggest thing my partner and I are saving for is to get our first home together. We’re in the fortunate position of being able to put money away every month, and after 4 years of being married we’re almost there.
It’s mental how much money you need to get the security of owning your own home. We’re in the middle of purchasing our first home, and that’s only been possible because of the accumulation of dough in our accounts. And saying no to a bunch of other things on the way.
2. Remember that thing you wanted for so long?
On my journey through life, remembering the things I already have has given me tons of motivation.
Like when I first got married, I had to pinch myself. I remember looking at my husband and being filled with gratitude. I couldn’t believe I’d been able to share my life journey with someone as kind and brilliant as my him.
My next thought was – it’ll suck when this feeling passes.
We’ve been married for coming up to four years now, but I’ve been careful to cultivate those early feelings. And it’s helped me enjoy the path we’re on. Here’s a quote from a Roman emperor that says it all:
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” – Marcus Aurelius
3. Woman not womonster
Life is a journey filled with challenges, and challenging interactions. In the past I probably haven’t handled difficult exchanges with people in the best way, but I’m learning to look for the humanity in them.
I ask myself this. The person that’s hell bent on ruining your morning coffee/lunch/general peace, they’re someone’s child, parent, partner. And they’re probably going through something on their own journey. Looking at those kinds of situations from the outside-in is helping to put fires out before they begin. And to make my life more peaceful ;)
“What is Man? A miserable little pile of secrets.” ― André Malraux
Just kidding! I meant this life journey quote, duh:
“If you look closely enough, amid the merciless and the bitter, there is always the chance that you may find comfort and the promise of something good.” – Bob Greene
4. Out of office
I’ve noticed part of the problem in enjoying the journey of life and not just the destination is that the world isn’t always built that way. We’re constantly producing. For instance, even when I’m not working, I’m still measuring my time in output. Did I write that blog post, did I do the laundry, did I cook that meal?
I reckon we could scrap part of the ‘doing’ mentality and gain much more in terms of life enjoyment. The life journey quote I keep in mind when thinking about this is:
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ― John Lubbock
5. Boobs, butts and bingo wings
I wish I was one of the thin people. But I’m not. My body is naturally bigger.
“There was no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.” ― James Runcie
And for the longest time I let something as simple and stupid as clothing dictate my mood and the happiness of my journey through life.
It’s when I decided not to give a flying crap about clothes that I felt heaps better. Now I wear what fits, and I altogether avoid going into the shops don’t think boobs, butts and bingo wings exist. You know the ones I mean.
6. Sorry not sorry
Restraint is great, but play is better.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away.” – Maya Angelou
I spent way too much of my earlier journey through life apologizing. Saying sorry for taking up space, for not being the girl you think I should be, for hitting puberty too young. Sorry for the hair on my body, for the size of my feet, for my enormous tits.
Sorry, sorry, sorry.
I’m working on replacing that with openness. Yep, I’m open for moments to take me away, to laugh as loudly and crazily as I want. And to take up space.
7. One step at a time (or how to swallow a whole physics text book)
I remember when I was 16 years old, trying to figure out how to get a whole physics textbook into my head for an exam. I flicked through the book, feeling the weight of it in my hands, the impossibility of it threatening to swallow me whole.
My dad sat me down and said – take it one page at a time. Study the one page, understand it, and then move to the next.
And at that moment of my life’s journey, a penny dropped in my head. In the end I got the whole book in my head, equations, diagrams, and all. I aced the exam, and then I went on to ace a master’s degree in chemical engineering at uni. Underpinning it all was the excellent life advice from my dad. Take it one step at a time.
And here’s a life journey quote I particularly like about taking things a step at a time.
“The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.” – Alan Watts
Do you have any ways of dealing with your journey in life? Let me know here
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