I just had a text from a friend who wanted us to join them for breakfast tomorrow or lunch today. I couldn’t make either dates and they said ‘we thought you two were meant to be retired’.
Well we are; but life is busy and I’m loving every minute of it!
The difference is, I’m making the choices as to what I want to be busy with. No longer am I filling my life with what I think is expected of me. I am now at a stage where I can choose how to spend my days and that can be very liberating!
'You are in control of how busy you are!'Click To TweetI’ve written before about planning for retirement – not the day before you retire but many years before you actually want to.
So often we get caught up in working to achieve a standard of living that we want and we forget about the simple things that life has to offer. The hustle and bustle of working and raising a family can distort our view on what our life should be like.
Yes, we want to provide a comfortable life for ourselves and our family but at what cost?
Wisdom, unfortunately, only comes with age and experience. Although I’m sure I’m not really wise, I have come to realise what my priorities in life should be for me. Notice, I wrote ‘for me’.
Priorities for everyone are different so you need to decide what is right for you and make the choice
Ask yourself if you are truly happy. If you answered ‘YES!’ that is wonderful. If you answered ‘NO’ or hesitated, then perhaps you need to take some time to think about what will make you happy in this life.
Remember you only get one shot at life you need to make the right choices whenever you can.Click To Tweet
We get so caught up in trying to please others or competing with others in an effort to attain happiness, that we don’t realise that happiness and life are passing us by. I wrote an article in the early days of my blog entitled Why We Need to Be Selfish – Sometimes As women we were raised to be caring and loving and we saw our own mothers putting others first. However, I’ve changed my thinking and although I do want to be there to help, love and nurture, I also want to enjoy my life.
Reaching midlife has given me that opportunity. The children have ‘left the nest’ and some have children of their own. I am fortunate that I don’t have to work unless I want to. My life is actually given me freedom – BUT IT IS UP TO ME TO TAKE THIS NEW FOUND FREEDOM AND RUN WITH IT.
Up until recently I was still trying to please everyone else and running myself into the ground.
If you are too busy doing things that you don’t really want to do then perhaps it is time to reflect on your life and what you want to change about it.
Time to slow down and live the life you want NOW!Click To TweetTry this exercise of making three lists:-
- Make a list of all the things you love and want to do in your life
- Make a list of what you need to do – because we all have responsibilities of some kind
- Make a list of what you are doing that you don’t like or don’t really need to do.
Look at your lists and see which is the longest – do you need to make some changes?
I love this John Lennon quote ; ‘Life is what happens to you when you are busy making plans’. Don’t get so busy planning that you forget to live is the message I get from this quote.
Life is short - Start living!Click To Tweet
Take the time to step back and as the cliche goes 'stop and smell the roses'Click To Tweet
Let’s Keep Sizzling!
22 Comments
Sue, two powerful posts this week! You go girl. LOL I love them both. I agree with you, now that my life is much simpler, I enjoy it so much more. I feel like I may be missing out at times, but not for the most part. Lately there has been a bit of chaos, which I hope will calm down soon, and I am missing my regular schedule. Sometimes I need to step out, especially for my family, but then I will be so happy to get back to where I need to be! Thanks for the reminder! xx
Well I’m trying Nikki! Sometimes it comes easily other times I don’t think I have anything more to offer. Take care and remember to look after you! xx
I suppose it depends on how you look it. I love making plans and it stresses me out if I don’t plan things out, but that’s what makes me tick and how I like to roll. My other half laughs as me as he says I plan time to be spontaneous and time to relax (I don’t…. always). But planning does make me happy, but sometimes the nicest days can come from things where you go with the flow.
Sally @ Life Loving
#LifeLovingLinkie
Hi Sally I’m a planner too! Although I’m finding that if I can ‘plan’ some time out I do feel better for it. Whatever makes you feel good I say so keep on planning!
As a pastor’s wife it took me a long time to find this balance. I thought I needed to be everything to everyone. Now I know that it is ok to say no and do only what I feel I should do. There was so much freedom in learning to say no and I found that no one was ever upset. Love you post.
Jen
#pinterestparty
Hi Jen! I can imagine being a pastor’s wife, people would automatically assume you would be there for everyone all the time. I think people understand if you say No in a polite way and you are right there is so much freedom in being able to say No. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!
It’s so important to take the time enjoy this life we’ve been given even if that means that you have to say “no” to other people. This is great advice, Sue. Thanks for sharing it at the Over the Moon Link Party.
Thanks Sandy although I need to practice what I preach a little more in 2016. Glad to be part of the Over the Moon Link Party. Have a great week!
I’m right there with you on this one!
Yes I need this as my mantra for 2016!
What a great article! When did “being busy” become a badge of honor? I know that when I do things that make me happy, I am a much happier person to be around. Thanks for this.
I know Rev it does seem that being busy is thought of as something to wear with pride but not if it affects the person you become. When we take a step back we can appreciate who we are and what we have and are much happier and contented. Thanks for stopping by to comment. Have a lovely holiday!
I love that John Lennon quote, Sue — there is lots of truth (for me!) in that. I am a planner, but it is easy to get so busy planning the work that I don’t work the plan! I know of at least one big thing that I plan to take off my “am currently doing but need to/want to stop doing” list in 2016. It will be sad to let this big thing go, but it is time. Congratulations for being featured in #ThePinterestGame with this post!
Oh Wendy! What a lovely Christmas gift to see that I was featured with this post on #ThePinterestGame. Thank you so much and I’m please you enjoyed the post. I need to take my own advice in 2016 and really try to slow down and enjoy a good balance of life and blogging. It is hard to let go but if you are going to feel better in the long run you need to. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and see you at #ThePinterestGame in 2016!
This post is seriously fantastic! I love that quote and your list exercise is so spot on! I’ve been pondering this a lot over the past year. I had to make some changes because I was doing too much hustling and bustling for the sake of others. For me, that meant moving across the country. A little extreme, I know. But, it’s helped a bit. But, it can be so difficult to make that shift. To realize that you need to focus on making yourself happy because you’re just as important as everybody else. This post is so fantastic! Nicely done, Sue!
I remember reading this back in December and again now it still resonates with me Sue – I think we need to readjust our thinking from what the world tells us is important to what we feel in our heart is valuable. Then we focus on those things and our happiness and contentment settles into place!
Hi Leanne, yes I thought I would repost as I didn’t have time to write something new and the message is still relevant. Thanks for stopping by to comment my friend
Fabulous post! I used to be so rushed off my feet and so was the whole family. We were trying to give our children every opportunity only we were all exhausted. Now we priorities down time and we are all much less stressed. It really is about finding balance isn’t it. Thanks of linking up #Fridayreflections
Finding balance isn’t easy Mackenzie but I do think we are all talking about it more about it and trying to find ways to cut back on the endless activities that can take over our lives. Always happy to hear from you and I love #Fridayreflections. Have a great week!
No longer am I living my life with what I think is expected of me. Love this. Me either! Great post!
Yes it is a hard step to take but we only have one shot at life Cathy so we need to make the most of it. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
[…] my post “Why you need to slow down and live the life you want now” I write about slowing down and appreciating life. I also talk about our priorities and the cost […]