Sometimes, life gets crazy.
And then, sometimes life floods you with crazy.
We're currently in the middle of our second move this summer, and so I'm trying to put all of my extra free time into that. Meanwhile, my wife has two jobs now, so any extra minutes I can have with her, I spend away from the computer (a hat tip to our recent media fast, for sure).
If you've been trying to get me to call you, e-mail you, Skype you, or anything else like that, chances are, I've sounded fishy, like I'm avoiding you. And the truth is, I am... in a way. Not on purpose, though. I'd love to be spending time in cyber reality now that I'm free from my fast. However, life calls. And when life calls, I run around like a chicken with its head cut off.
So please forgive me, my friends. I pinky promise that I'll be back soon!
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
6.20.2012
5.09.2012
Our Secret to Life and Marriage
So you want to know the secret to living a great life? Or even to having a great marriage?
Now if you're looking for advice for a happy, healthy marriage, take this into consideration: I've known my wife for about 7 years now. So that's about half of our cognizant lifetime (mentioned above). We've been dating/engaged/marriage for almost 6 of those years. We spent the other year making each other's lives miserable.
First, let's make sure you're willing to take our advice.
After all, we've only been alive for 22 years. Like most people, we weren't really cognizant of the first 4-5 years, though, so we've really only been alive 17. And then, if you average in about 8 hours of sleep a night, we've only been awake for about 11 years.
So basically, you're listening to the advice of an 11 year old.
Still with me? Then I suppose you're truly interested. Keep reading!
Beyond that, we've only been married for about 3 years. And again, we're only 22.
So you're looking for advice from someone who's basically an infant in marriage.
Now that I've discredited myself in every way, are you still with me? Well, then, I suppose you're still genuinely interested in what I have to say.
Our secret isn't a trick or gimmick. It's nothing new or fancy. It's not even particularly difficult. However, it is an everyday event. It does take time, investment, and genuine care. It requires an interest in your partner that is beyond almost any other interest you have. It actually requires you to love them in action, and not just in word.
If you're looking for a quick-fix to your problems, this isn't it. Problems require time and genuine caring and love.
If you're looking for a way to skirt through your life and marriage without any problems, this definitely isn't it. And if that is the case, you have an entirely different set of problems that need addressing by someone more qualified than myself.
If you're looking for a guaranteed way to avoid conflict, this most certainly isn't it. If you want a conflict-free life or marriage, you should be a dog. Dogs don't seem to have much conflict in their lives. Us humans live with other humans and that, by its very nature, causes conflict.
So what is it, you ask? What's our secret to a happy life and a healthy marriage?
Our secret is this:
We keep learning new things every day.
What's that? You're disappointed? No trumpets sounding from heaven?
Well, I hate to break it to you, but life isn't about quick-fixes or easy solutions. There's nothing neat and clean about our "secret." It's not like you can learn one new fact a day and be guaranteed a happy life.
And as for marriage, well, have you ever really thought of this in that regard? I'm sure we've all heard at some point or another to learn something new every day. But how does this apply to marriage?
You see, I've heard it time and time again: people divorcing because the other spouse "changed." They claim that their wife/husband isn't the person they originally married.
Truth be told, none of us are who we were even yesterday. Even physically - our bodies are completely renewed every seven years. So we shouldn't be surprised that our spouses have changed. That's the nature of being a living, breathing human being. That change is inevitable. How we handle it determines how successful our lives and our marriages are.
In regards to life, there are a million different ways you can keep learning. The Internet is an amazing place filled with some amazing (and not-so amazing) knowledge and wisdom. I stumbled on a site recently that can help point you in the right direction. But on the off chance that you're lazy and don't look there, you can simply check out TED Talks. There, you'll find hours and hours and hours of knowledge - all for free!
In regards to marriage, there are also several methods to make sure you keep learning about your spouse. I'll suggest one here that we've recently started doing.
In order to keep learning about your spouse as they change, grow, shift, and mold into an entirely different person, you have to keep learning about them. And in order to learn about them, you need to ask questions and actually have conversations. We've found a unique way to do this:
Step 1 - Find a notebook. Any old notebook will do, as long as it's empty.
Step 2 - Write a question or two for your spouse. Nothing is out of bounds - you're married, for crying out loud!
Step 3 - Answer those questions about yourself. Be honest, open, and thoughtful. Otherwise, you're defeating the purpose of this entire exercise.
Step 4 (this is my favorite) - Hide that sucker. Of course, you should hide it somewhere they can find it, but be creative. I recently hid our notebook in the kitchen cabinet, because my wife loves cooking. But don't cheat and tell them where it is - that's half the fun of this!
Again, this is one of several ideas to keep learning about your partner. But if you intentionally do this, you'll find that you're changing along with your spouse, and you won't be so confused when, 10 years down the road, you're both different people. It's bound to happen. It's up to you whether or not it's going to be a surprise.
Now, like I said earlier, this isn't a quick fix for life or for your marriage. I can't guarantee that this will drastically alter either. However, I think a lot can be said for small changes like this, especially in the fast-paced world we live in today.
If you end up doing this notebook exercise, I'd like to hear from you. How did it go? Where did you hide your notebook? What kind of questions did you ask?
And for the rest of you who aren't married: keep learning about the world you live in. We live in an incredible time where knowledge is readily available and easily accessible. We'd be crazy not to take advantage of it.
We might just find, as we learn, that we'll grow into the people we truly want to become, and the people we become are people the world (and our spouse) truly needs.
... ... ...
Questions: What's the best advice you've ever been given about life or marriage? How do you keep learning? What are some other ways to continue learning about your spouse?
In regards to life, there are a million different ways you can keep learning. The Internet is an amazing place filled with some amazing (and not-so amazing) knowledge and wisdom. I stumbled on a site recently that can help point you in the right direction. But on the off chance that you're lazy and don't look there, you can simply check out TED Talks. There, you'll find hours and hours and hours of knowledge - all for free!
In regards to marriage, there are also several methods to make sure you keep learning about your spouse. I'll suggest one here that we've recently started doing.
In order to keep learning about your spouse as they change, grow, shift, and mold into an entirely different person, you have to keep learning about them. And in order to learn about them, you need to ask questions and actually have conversations. We've found a unique way to do this:
Step 1 - Find a notebook. Any old notebook will do, as long as it's empty.
Step 2 - Write a question or two for your spouse. Nothing is out of bounds - you're married, for crying out loud!
Step 3 - Answer those questions about yourself. Be honest, open, and thoughtful. Otherwise, you're defeating the purpose of this entire exercise.
Step 4 (this is my favorite) - Hide that sucker. Of course, you should hide it somewhere they can find it, but be creative. I recently hid our notebook in the kitchen cabinet, because my wife loves cooking. But don't cheat and tell them where it is - that's half the fun of this!
Again, this is one of several ideas to keep learning about your partner. But if you intentionally do this, you'll find that you're changing along with your spouse, and you won't be so confused when, 10 years down the road, you're both different people. It's bound to happen. It's up to you whether or not it's going to be a surprise.
Now, like I said earlier, this isn't a quick fix for life or for your marriage. I can't guarantee that this will drastically alter either. However, I think a lot can be said for small changes like this, especially in the fast-paced world we live in today.
If you end up doing this notebook exercise, I'd like to hear from you. How did it go? Where did you hide your notebook? What kind of questions did you ask?
And for the rest of you who aren't married: keep learning about the world you live in. We live in an incredible time where knowledge is readily available and easily accessible. We'd be crazy not to take advantage of it.
We might just find, as we learn, that we'll grow into the people we truly want to become, and the people we become are people the world (and our spouse) truly needs.
... ... ...
Questions: What's the best advice you've ever been given about life or marriage? How do you keep learning? What are some other ways to continue learning about your spouse?
Did you enjoy this post? If so, I'd appreciate you subscribing to Life Before the Bucket and sharing it with your friends. Thanks a million for reading!
2.22.2012
Find the Beauty in Today
Today could be the most beautiful day of your life. It could be unforgettable, laced with memories unmatched.Or today could be another Wednesday, caught in the mess of yet another week in another month in another year.
Today could be the most beautiful day of your life. It could be overflowing with love, compassion, and care for every person you encounter.
Or it could be filled with bickering, attitude, and self-loathing.
Today could be the most beautiful day of your life. It could even be greatest day of your life, if only you'd give it a chance.
Or it could settle for less, for "fine" or "good." But even "good" is forgettable.
Today could be the most beautiful day of your life. It could be filled with an unrivaled boldness that sets it apart from the pack.
Or it could simply become a day italicized, written for nothing more than fodder until the next beautiful day of your life.
Today will be the most beautiful day of your life. If only you give it a chance. If only you let it be different. If only you let it be loving. If only you don't let it settle for "good."
Make this day the most beautiful day of your life.
... ... ...
Questions: Do you really believe each day could be more beautiful than the next? What inspires you to seek beauty in your everyday life? How can you make today the most beautiful day of your life?
Did you enjoy this post? If so, I'd appreciate you subscribing to Life Before the Bucket and sharing it with your friends. Thanks a million for reading!
photo credit: boogy_man - sxc.hu
1.19.2012
The Danger in Riding Fences
When I write, I spend a lot of time staring at a blank screen.
I also spend a lot of time suffocating the little key on my laptop known as "backspace."
The delete key wins honorable mention, but only because it's what backspace should have been named.
And in all of this staring and key-mashing, I find myself frustrated, wallowing in my own destructive self-talk.
No, that's not good enough.
BACKSPACE
Why would people be interested in that?
DELETE
You'll never "make it" with lame ideas like this.
UNDO
And the negative self-talk persists. No matter how many posts I write or how many people read my words, those doubts creep up on me each time I'm trying to decide on the words that will fill my screen.
I realized something the other day, though. Something that helps. It doesn't heal the negativity I have toward myself (and that's another series of posts for another week entirely), but it keeps me from getting ugly.
So what did I realize?
The easiest way for me to nip my defeating self-talk in the bud is to simply make a decision.
This is one of the hardest things for me to do in life. Ask anyone that knows me (especially my wife). I'm often chained down by indecision because I don't have enough confidence in myself to believe that I could actually be doing something correctly.
But what I realized the other day is this: oftentimes, when I'm deciding between one thing or another, the results of choosing one or the other won't be nearly as devastating as choosing neither.
Case in point: I've been aching over buying a camera lens forever. I finally decided on one two days ago, and I still have doubts about my choice. But if I kept riding the fence and "playing it safe," I was going to be losing out on precious opportunities to use a new lens to capture memories - the whole point of my photography.
Not deciding was worse for me than choosing either of the options, and this is often the case with most decisions in life.
So today, learn from my mistakes. Make a choice, jump off that fence, and destroy it while you're down. The danger in riding fences is that they get you nowhere, and they get you there fast.
I don't know what decision you need to make to today, but I do know that making one is better than making none. Figure out what decisions you're avoiding in your life and do. something. about. them.
... ... ...
Questions: What sort of decisions have you been avoiding? Why have you avoided choosing a side? What is there to gain from riding the fence?
If you enjoy what you've read, I'd appreciate you subscribing to Life Before the Bucket and sharing this post with your friends. Thanks a million for reading!
photo credit: raZna - sxc.hu
I also spend a lot of time suffocating the little key on my laptop known as "backspace."
The delete key wins honorable mention, but only because it's what backspace should have been named.
And in all of this staring and key-mashing, I find myself frustrated, wallowing in my own destructive self-talk.
No, that's not good enough.
BACKSPACE
Why would people be interested in that?
DELETE
You'll never "make it" with lame ideas like this.
UNDO
And the negative self-talk persists. No matter how many posts I write or how many people read my words, those doubts creep up on me each time I'm trying to decide on the words that will fill my screen.
I realized something the other day, though. Something that helps. It doesn't heal the negativity I have toward myself (and that's another series of posts for another week entirely), but it keeps me from getting ugly.
So what did I realize?
The easiest way for me to nip my defeating self-talk in the bud is to simply make a decision.
This is one of the hardest things for me to do in life. Ask anyone that knows me (especially my wife). I'm often chained down by indecision because I don't have enough confidence in myself to believe that I could actually be doing something correctly.
But what I realized the other day is this: oftentimes, when I'm deciding between one thing or another, the results of choosing one or the other won't be nearly as devastating as choosing neither.
 |
| Step away from the fence, people. |
Not deciding was worse for me than choosing either of the options, and this is often the case with most decisions in life.
So today, learn from my mistakes. Make a choice, jump off that fence, and destroy it while you're down. The danger in riding fences is that they get you nowhere, and they get you there fast.
I don't know what decision you need to make to today, but I do know that making one is better than making none. Figure out what decisions you're avoiding in your life and do. something. about. them.
... ... ...
Questions: What sort of decisions have you been avoiding? Why have you avoided choosing a side? What is there to gain from riding the fence?
If you enjoy what you've read, I'd appreciate you subscribing to Life Before the Bucket and sharing this post with your friends. Thanks a million for reading!
photo credit: raZna - sxc.hu
1.18.2012
Just Do It
This past month has been insane.
I mean, sure, there was that whole Christmas thing. And then New Year's. And finishing last semester. And starting this semester.
Minor details.
No, what I'm talking about doesn't concern school or holidays. What I'm talking about is life.
Over the last month or so, I've set some pretty lofty goals for myself:
Gain 30 pounds.
Stop drinking soda.
Spend less than five minutes a day on Facebook.
And the list goes on.
And as I've pursued these things, I've been doing a lot of reading. A lot of reading. On weight gaining. On blogging. On spirituality and what it means to accept the Bible for what it is and not what I want it to be. On photography. On living my life to the fullest. And so, so much more.
And you know what I've found that's helped me? Frankly, very little.
You see, as I'm working toward truly living life every moment of every day (as opposed to simply existing and letting life happen to me), I'm learning. I'm learning what works for me.
The thing is, I read a thing here and there about what to do for this and that. But ultimately, it comes down to me actually living and finding out what works for me - not just what I think sounds good to me.
Sure, I love reading. It's great for learning and great for leisure. And I love learning and enjoying myself. But learning and leisureliness do not equate with living.
In this last month, I've learned that in order to find what works for me, I actually have to take the risk of failing in order to discover success. And I think this is something that could be said for you as well.
Want to be a big-time blogger? You don't have to post 5 times a week, or even once a week. There's no magic formula. Find what works for you and do it.
Want to live a healthier lifestyle? You don't have to exercise 4 hours a day. You don't have to be a vegan. You do have to find what works for you and do it.
Want to write a book? You don't have to wake up at 5 AM everyday or stay up until 3 AM every night. If it's not your thing, don't do it. Find what works for you and... yup, you guessed it: do it.
I know I sound like a Nike commercial right now, but it doesn't get much simpler than that. If you're looking to live a richer, more fulfilling life right now, then stop reading, stop seeking the "right way." Figure out what it means for you to live a fulfilled life and just do it.
... ... ...
Questions: What is holding you back from achieving your goals? Why do you fear the risk of failure? How will you live a more fulfilled life in your own personal way today?
Don't forget to subscribe to Life Before the Bucket! If you enjoyed this post, please use the fancy schmancy buttons and links to share this post with your friends!
I mean, sure, there was that whole Christmas thing. And then New Year's. And finishing last semester. And starting this semester.
Minor details.
No, what I'm talking about doesn't concern school or holidays. What I'm talking about is life.
Over the last month or so, I've set some pretty lofty goals for myself:
Gain 30 pounds.
Stop drinking soda.
Spend less than five minutes a day on Facebook.
And the list goes on.
And as I've pursued these things, I've been doing a lot of reading. A lot of reading. On weight gaining. On blogging. On spirituality and what it means to accept the Bible for what it is and not what I want it to be. On photography. On living my life to the fullest. And so, so much more.
And you know what I've found that's helped me? Frankly, very little.
You see, as I'm working toward truly living life every moment of every day (as opposed to simply existing and letting life happen to me), I'm learning. I'm learning what works for me.
The thing is, I read a thing here and there about what to do for this and that. But ultimately, it comes down to me actually living and finding out what works for me - not just what I think sounds good to me.
Sure, I love reading. It's great for learning and great for leisure. And I love learning and enjoying myself. But learning and leisureliness do not equate with living.
In this last month, I've learned that in order to find what works for me, I actually have to take the risk of failing in order to discover success. And I think this is something that could be said for you as well.
Want to live a healthier lifestyle? You don't have to exercise 4 hours a day. You don't have to be a vegan. You do have to find what works for you and do it.
Want to write a book? You don't have to wake up at 5 AM everyday or stay up until 3 AM every night. If it's not your thing, don't do it. Find what works for you and... yup, you guessed it: do it.
I know I sound like a Nike commercial right now, but it doesn't get much simpler than that. If you're looking to live a richer, more fulfilling life right now, then stop reading, stop seeking the "right way." Figure out what it means for you to live a fulfilled life and just do it.
... ... ...
Questions: What is holding you back from achieving your goals? Why do you fear the risk of failure? How will you live a more fulfilled life in your own personal way today?
Don't forget to subscribe to Life Before the Bucket! If you enjoyed this post, please use the fancy schmancy buttons and links to share this post with your friends!
1.09.2012
Remember What's Important
Today is Monday, which usually means yesterday was Sunday.
And since yesterday was Sunday, that means a guy named Tim Tebow played a game called football. And whether he did well or poorly, people were talking about him yesterday and are still talking about him today.
Have you heard of him?
Well, it turns out he did pretty well yesterday. But I'm not here to talk about Tim Tebow. Nope. I've got something more important to talk about.
Yesterday, Tim Tebow won a football game. After the game, he's required to meet with the press, and he did so enthusiastically. I listened to him talk (because I'm an avid football fan - I can't help it), and I was amazed.
The kid is clearly in a little over his head. But what he lacks in age, he makes up for in charisma. Tim Tebow bleeds energy, and it's evident that everyone around him is better for that.
Again, though, that isn't what's important. I'm not here to write about Tim Tebow. Or football. Or whether God favors the Broncos (because he doesn't). In fact, allow me to use good ol' Timmy to illustrate what I do want to talk about. Check out this interview with him after the game yesterday (skip to 1:15 if you don't want to watch it all).
Did you catch it?
In the midst of all the football mumbo-jumbo and nose wiping, did you catch it?
Tim reminded us all of what matters, and it had nothing to do with football.
In case you couldn't (or just didn't want to) watch the video, here's what happened. A reporter asked him, "Do you have a sense of what kind of phenomenon you are nationwide right now?"
His reply?
Though Tim Tebow just set all kinds of records and was being lauded by the press as a nationwide phenomena, he remembered what was important. He remembered that he was just playing a game, and that the game was just a platform for something greater - in this case, comforting a girl who's been through more than any of us can imagine.
But like I said, I'm not here to write about Tim Tebow. I'm here to write about me. About you. About us.
Guys, gals, friends, family, and foes - we need to remember what's important. To remember what the "biggest win of the day" is for us. We slave over our jobs and our hobbies, whether that's writing, being a full time stay-at-home parent, or working whatever hours Wal-Mart will give us, and most days (especially Mondays), we don't enjoy it much.
But this week, even if just for a single moment, let's remember what's important. Let's put what's given to us as our "platform" in its proper place and use it for what its worth, even if we don't enjoy it
And then, let's see what's important: the people around us that matter the most. The people crying and dying for help. That someone who needs a helping hand. And those other someones we maybe neglect more than we should.
If there's anything you do today, let it be this:
Remember what's important. And then do something about it.
And since yesterday was Sunday, that means a guy named Tim Tebow played a game called football. And whether he did well or poorly, people were talking about him yesterday and are still talking about him today.
Have you heard of him?
Well, it turns out he did pretty well yesterday. But I'm not here to talk about Tim Tebow. Nope. I've got something more important to talk about.
Yesterday, Tim Tebow won a football game. After the game, he's required to meet with the press, and he did so enthusiastically. I listened to him talk (because I'm an avid football fan - I can't help it), and I was amazed.The kid is clearly in a little over his head. But what he lacks in age, he makes up for in charisma. Tim Tebow bleeds energy, and it's evident that everyone around him is better for that.
Again, though, that isn't what's important. I'm not here to write about Tim Tebow. Or football. Or whether God favors the Broncos (because he doesn't). In fact, allow me to use good ol' Timmy to illustrate what I do want to talk about. Check out this interview with him after the game yesterday (skip to 1:15 if you don't want to watch it all).
Did you catch it?
In the midst of all the football mumbo-jumbo and nose wiping, did you catch it?
Tim reminded us all of what matters, and it had nothing to do with football.
In case you couldn't (or just didn't want to) watch the video, here's what happened. A reporter asked him, "Do you have a sense of what kind of phenomenon you are nationwide right now?"
His reply?
I’m very thankful for the platform God has given me…
It’s special to have the platform of playing football because I have an opportunity to affect people.
I was very excited to have Bailey Knaub here at this game… Football is amazing, we love it, but the real win is being able to comfort a girl who’s gone through 73 surgeries before the game and get a chance to go hang out with her now. That’s the biggest win of the day, so they’re both exciting, but that’s what I’m even more proud of.
Though Tim Tebow just set all kinds of records and was being lauded by the press as a nationwide phenomena, he remembered what was important. He remembered that he was just playing a game, and that the game was just a platform for something greater - in this case, comforting a girl who's been through more than any of us can imagine.
But like I said, I'm not here to write about Tim Tebow. I'm here to write about me. About you. About us.
Guys, gals, friends, family, and foes - we need to remember what's important. To remember what the "biggest win of the day" is for us. We slave over our jobs and our hobbies, whether that's writing, being a full time stay-at-home parent, or working whatever hours Wal-Mart will give us, and most days (especially Mondays), we don't enjoy it much.
But this week, even if just for a single moment, let's remember what's important. Let's put what's given to us as our "platform" in its proper place and use it for what its worth, even if we don't enjoy it
And then, let's see what's important: the people around us that matter the most. The people crying and dying for help. That someone who needs a helping hand. And those other someones we maybe neglect more than we should.
If there's anything you do today, let it be this:
Remember what's important. And then do something about it.
... ... ...
Questions: What's your biggest win of the day? How do you remind yourself of what's important? How can you do something about that today?
Don't forget to subscribe to Life Before the Bucket! If you enjoyed this post, please use those fancy schmancy buttons down there to share this post with your friends and family!
1.06.2012
Stop Wasting Your Life
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| photo credit: 2020VG - sxc.hu |
Okay, we all know that's a dirty lie.
But seriously now. Sometimes I spend my time stalking people on Facebook, stalking people on their blogs, and stalking people on MySpace (as a last resort, naturally).
Now before you get your hopes up, I probably haven't stalked you lately. In fact, this year, it's going to be harder than ever to waste my time learning unnecessary details of my friends' lives.
You see, one of my goals for 2012 is to only spend 5 minutes a day on Facebook.
What?! How will I ever survive?
Well, contrary to popular belief, you don't actually have to ever get on Facebook to maintain a social life. Not at all! And I thought about doing this, but I quickly figured out that I wouldn't be able to post updates from Life Before the Bucket if I couldn't get on Facebook, so I nixed that idea.
You know what's crazy, though? Even if I only spend 5 minutes a day on Facebook this year, I'm still spending over 24 hours of my time in 2012 on the good ol' F-B. Can you imagine just sitting on Facebook for 24 straight hours? It's insane, really. And according to this article, if I'm like the average person, I spent over 90 hours of my year on Facebook in 2011.
But the truth is, I want 2012 to be better than 2011 was. I want to live life more fully than I ever have before. And I firmly believe that living life to the fullest does not include overdosing on Facebook.
I want to stop wasting my life.
So what about you? If I've stalked you as well as I think I have, then I know that you're determined to make the most of your limited time in this life. That most likely means that you, like me, need to stop wasting your life.
For you, it might look different. Maybe you don't care about Facebook, but you can't go a day without playing Call of Duty. Or maybe your time-waster is perusing StumbleUpon. Regardless of how you're wasting your life, I know that somewhere within you, you want to stop. I know this because you're still reading (and not because I stalk you). You want to make something more of your life and want 2012 to be better than 2011.
It isn't difficult. Try it out for a week. Decide that you'll only spend 5 minutes, 10, 15, or however much time a day on Facebook or playing your favorite game. Give yourself a goal just for the coming week and see what it's like to have more time in your day.
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| I've been seeing this on my browser a lot lately thanks to StayFocusd |
EDIT: I had originally linked to the Chrome Nanny extension, but StayFocusd is actually what I meant to suggest - it's a LOT simpler. Check it out!
It'll be one less excuse that you have for not accomplishing your goals, so if you're fond of having excuses, maybe this isn't for you. But maybe you're tired of making excuses and you want to have more time to actually live life. If that's the case, try it out, even for just a day. You'll be surprised at how free you feel when you're freed from even one time-wasting obligation.
So you know what to do, and you know how to do it.
Make it happen, and make 2012 the best year you've ever lived!
P.S. If you need something productive to do while you're on the internet or as a break from work, check out Freerice.com!
P.P.S. I finally made an About Me and a Contact page. Check 'em out!
... ... ...
Questions: What is your favorite time-waster? How are you going to cut time-wasters out of 2012? What will you do with all of your extra time?
Don't forget to subscribe to Life Before the Bucket! If you enjoyed this post, please use those fancy schmancy buttons down there to share this post with your friends and family!
1.03.2012
Life Happens
It's the third day of 2012 - January 3rd, in case you missed it.
How many resolutions have you already given up on?
It's amazing how a new year reinvigorates us. Once the clock strikes midnight on the 1st, we feel like superheroes; we can do anything!
And then it happens.
Your car won't start. Your laptop crashes. You lose your job.
Who saw that coming?
That's what we like to call life.
In 2011, I managed to accomplish 44 goals. When I originally wrote out my list of goals, though, I was sure I could accomplish more. However, I didn't envision my health declining so quickly as we found out I had the lungs of an 85 year old. Life happened.
And so, as 2012 begins, I want to share something with you. This is important, so listen up.
No, seriously. You should write this down.
What I want to share is this: regardless of how much we try, we cannot keep bad things from happening.
Sometimes, life locks the door and refuses to let us in.
What we can do, though, is realize that life won't go "according to plan," and, well, plan accordingly.
How will you react when your best friend moves away? Or when your car is broken into? How about when a family member passes away unexpectedly?
Choose now, right here in this moment, to overcome. To rise above your circumstances and realize that they are just that: circumstances, which will inevitably change. Instead of fearing the curve balls life will throw you, choose to take a swing at them. Go down swinging instead of watching life pass you by.
You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish.
You may be determined to live life to the fullest today, but when tomorrow comes and it happens, how will you choose to react?
Choose today to become something more.
Choose to react with courage and determination.
Choose to live life instead of simply letting life happen to you.
... ... ...
Questions: What unexpected obstacles did you face in 2011? What do you expect to face in 2012? What can you do today to give yourself a better chance to succeed tomorrow?
Don't forget to "Like" Life Before the Bucket on Facebook and to use those new buttons down there to share it with your friends and family!
How many resolutions have you already given up on?
It's amazing how a new year reinvigorates us. Once the clock strikes midnight on the 1st, we feel like superheroes; we can do anything!
And then it happens.
Your car won't start. Your laptop crashes. You lose your job.
Who saw that coming?
That's what we like to call life.
In 2011, I managed to accomplish 44 goals. When I originally wrote out my list of goals, though, I was sure I could accomplish more. However, I didn't envision my health declining so quickly as we found out I had the lungs of an 85 year old. Life happened.
And so, as 2012 begins, I want to share something with you. This is important, so listen up.
No, seriously. You should write this down.
What I want to share is this: regardless of how much we try, we cannot keep bad things from happening.
 |
| photo credit: dnabil - stock.xchng |
What we can do, though, is realize that life won't go "according to plan," and, well, plan accordingly.
How will you react when your best friend moves away? Or when your car is broken into? How about when a family member passes away unexpectedly?
Choose now, right here in this moment, to overcome. To rise above your circumstances and realize that they are just that: circumstances, which will inevitably change. Instead of fearing the curve balls life will throw you, choose to take a swing at them. Go down swinging instead of watching life pass you by.
You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish.
You may be determined to live life to the fullest today, but when tomorrow comes and it happens, how will you choose to react?
Choose today to become something more.
Choose to react with courage and determination.
Choose to live life instead of simply letting life happen to you.
... ... ...
Questions: What unexpected obstacles did you face in 2011? What do you expect to face in 2012? What can you do today to give yourself a better chance to succeed tomorrow?
Don't forget to "Like" Life Before the Bucket on Facebook and to use those new buttons down there to share it with your friends and family!
1.02.2012
Starting Strong
It's that time of year again: memories of a year passed are being revisited, new goals are being set, and none of us can seem to write the date correctly.Don't worry, you'll figure out that it's 2012 just in time for it to be 2013.
I'd like to think that this is the time of year when Life Before the Bucket should be in its prime. And since this blog was birthed from my bucket list, the beginning of a new year screams, "WRITE ABOUT YOUR NEW GOALS!"
But first, I want to remember. To recall. To enjoy what has happened so that I can appreciate what's to come.
Last year, I set 111 goals to accomplish in 2011. Needless to say, I didn't achieve them all. However, I definitely did more than I would have if I didn't have the goals in the first place. I managed to cross fourty-four goals off of my list last year. And if I would've tried harder, I could have done more.
And isn't that always the issue?
We work, we play, and we live life, hoping to make the best of it. But sometimes, we don't want to try any longer. We form a skewed sense of entitlement: "I've done this well so far; why do I need to keep applying myself?"
And therein lies a critical mistake that we make in most of our endeavors: we stop trying.
This habit forms early, while we're still in school. We go through 12 years of school, and by the time we hit the 13th - our senior year - we think we deserve a break! After all, we have already shown that we can do the "school" thing for twelve straight years; why should we keep trying? Fortunately, most of us manage to survive school, despite such an attitude.
But life isn't school. You don't get to skate through the "classes" you don't enjoy. You don't get to "graduate." Instead, life demands that you face it head-on until you've breathed your very last.
Sure, you've done pretty well in life so far - after all, look at all of your accolades! And while you should be commended for how you've fought so far to live a life of intentionality, it doesn't stop here. It's a new year, people, and there are new challenges ahead.
I, for one, am excited. Ecstatic, even. I can't wait to make 2012 one of the most memorable years of my life. But I can't do that if I don't try.
So as you begin 2012, consider making one of your resolutions to try harder than you did last year. Let this year be different. Make it impossible to say, "And if I would've tried harder, I could have done more."
Because you can try harder, and I know you will.
--- --- ---
Questions: What are some of your goals for 2012? How can you try harder this year?
Don't forget to "Like" Life Before the Bucket on Facebook and share it with your friends and family!
11.19.2011
Reflections
What if I've lost "it?" What if I never had "it?"
Will my friends notice? Will my family care?
Why did I stop in the first place?
Why did I even start in the first place?
As I've thought about sitting at this keyboard to write, these are the thoughts that have been swirling amidst everything else that occupies my life.
School, relationships, work, sickness, exercise, holidays. It's all a jumbled mess, but somewhere in there is my dormant desire to be sitting here, right here where I am, writing.
My feet are freezing. But my coffee is warm. My hands are out of practice, and my mind is trying to recollect, to reorganize. It's like riding a bike, but much more vulnerable. I can't skin my knees, but I can rub my heart the wrong way if I'm not careful.
How did I ever do this before?
The thoughts continue.
Regardless of those thoughts, though. I'm here. I'm typing, or writing (if that's what you want to call this jumbled mess).
I'm back because I need to be. Because I've realized this last month and a half that life will always be there to get in the way of what you love to do. I will always be sick and taking extra medicine. I will always have work to do. I will always have relationships to tend to, people to love.
I want, though, above all else, to always be writing, regardless of life's twists and turns. Regardless of these thoughts.
But what if no one reads this?
So what?
That never stopped me before. Why should it now?
7.25.2011
Digging through the Bucket: A New Perspective
Today I am featuring a post that I wrote two months ago. I was going to write a new post on the topic, but then I realized that this one said everything I wanted to say, and that many of you may not have seen it. Enjoy!
Do you remember the day that you first got glasses?
That's a pretty big day if you've experienced it.
It's almost as if an entirely new world is opened up to you. You see things that were hidden before. Colors that didn't exist suddenly permeate your field of vision. The world became brighter, more beautiful. You can finally see what everyone else has always been excited about, those things you've just had to imagine with your mind.
When you get a new set of glasses or contacts, it's almost like you get a new lease on life. It's as if someone has been holding a plastic bag over your eyes your entire life, and they finally remove it. It's a feeling that can't be matched.
If you haven't had the experience of getting new glasses because you've always been able to see the world clearly, count yourself blessed. There are many people who would pay a lot of money to be able to see the things that you see effortlessly. Though we don't always see it, sight is a blessing.
Take,
for instance, this photo to the right. If you use a little imagination,
you can see that this is a set of bright pink flowers. And sure, they could look
pretty if you squinted a little, tilt your head about 62.3 degrees, and
hop on one foot, but really, it's just your imagination. These flowers
aren't really that pretty because, frankly, you can't see them. You're
missing out on their beauty because something is hindering your sight
(in this case, my malicious photo editing).
Do you remember the day that you first got glasses?
That's a pretty big day if you've experienced it.
It's almost as if an entirely new world is opened up to you. You see things that were hidden before. Colors that didn't exist suddenly permeate your field of vision. The world became brighter, more beautiful. You can finally see what everyone else has always been excited about, those things you've just had to imagine with your mind.
When you get a new set of glasses or contacts, it's almost like you get a new lease on life. It's as if someone has been holding a plastic bag over your eyes your entire life, and they finally remove it. It's a feeling that can't be matched.
If you haven't had the experience of getting new glasses because you've always been able to see the world clearly, count yourself blessed. There are many people who would pay a lot of money to be able to see the things that you see effortlessly. Though we don't always see it, sight is a blessing.
5.26.2011
A New Perspective
Finally watched the finale of the Biggest Loser last night (while everyone else was watching American Idol). Now we have no shows left to watch for the summer. Sad, sad day.
Do you remember the day that you first got glasses?
That's a pretty big day if you've experienced it.
It's almost as if an entirely new world is opened up to you. You see things that were hidden before. Colors that didn't exist suddenly permeate your field of vision. The world became brighter, more beautiful. You can finally see what everyone else has always been excited about, those things you've just had to imagine with your mind.
When you get a new set of glasses or contacts, it's almost like you get a new lease on life. It's as if someone has been holding a plastic bag over your eyes your entire life, and they finally remove it. It's a feeling that can't be matched.
If you haven't had the experience of getting new glasses because you've always been able to see the world clearly, count yourself blessed. There are many people who would pay a lot of money to be able to see the things that you see effortlessly. Though we don't always see it, sight is a blessing.
Take, for instance, this photo to the right. If you use a little imagination, you can see that this is a set of bright pink flowers. And sure, they could look pretty if you squinted a little, tilt your head about 62.3 degrees, and hop on one foot, but really, it's just your imagination. These flowers aren't really that pretty because, frankly, you can't see them. You're missing out on their beauty because something is hindering your sight (in this case, my malicious photo editing).
Do you remember the day that you first got glasses?
That's a pretty big day if you've experienced it.
It's almost as if an entirely new world is opened up to you. You see things that were hidden before. Colors that didn't exist suddenly permeate your field of vision. The world became brighter, more beautiful. You can finally see what everyone else has always been excited about, those things you've just had to imagine with your mind.
When you get a new set of glasses or contacts, it's almost like you get a new lease on life. It's as if someone has been holding a plastic bag over your eyes your entire life, and they finally remove it. It's a feeling that can't be matched.
If you haven't had the experience of getting new glasses because you've always been able to see the world clearly, count yourself blessed. There are many people who would pay a lot of money to be able to see the things that you see effortlessly. Though we don't always see it, sight is a blessing.
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