Is it really necessary to have competition around living life? Live life to the fullest, says….everyone. Well, OK, but don’t look down on people because you think you live your life better than they do.
The following questions are all rhetorical.
You run 3 hours a day. I read or write for 3 hours a day. Is one better? You’re more physically fit, granted, but maybe you are an illiterate boob.
You ran an an ultra marathon, she ran a marathon, I ran a half marathon, he ran a 10k. Is one of us living life more fully because of it? Are some of us compensating for a lack of life by literally running non stop?
What if I spend my nights in my sweltering office writing for hours at a time about the great adventures I have during the day?
What if I spend my days reclining with hot tea and bonbons as I write the Great American Novel?
What if I’m writing bodice rippers while still in my Cheeto stained bathrobe?
What if I lay on the couch and watch classic movies all day and write reviews for a movie blog?
What if I just watch Starsky and Hutch reruns?
Or Judge Judy?
See, at a certain point you started to crinkle your nose. Admit it, you did. I did, too.
Every one on the internet goes on and on about living life to the fullest, but who decides what that is? We all do.
I woke up in the in middle of the night last night with an idea, tried to ignore it and go back to sleep. Sighed, and started writing it down. 0300 sucks when you have an idea, and would rather be sleeping. Some of you probably wasted your whole night sleeping. Slackers!
If I spend the evening on the deck with friends drinking wine, laughing and watching the sun set, is that better or worse than doing the same thing while hunting, fishing or boating?
Is racing my bike better than pedaling slowly down to the river and back and enjoying the view?
Is going for a walk to the park and taking pictures of the weird stuff I see living less fully than hiking in the Andes?
Some people think that no life is lived fully unless it includes helping others. Does knitting purple hats for preemies check my ticket, or do I need to run an orphanage in Uganda?
Is larger better than smaller?
I’m just asking.
It’s pretty obvious, to me anyway, that we each have our own answer to that question and that it involves balance. For me, it’s about loving the small things that happen every day. I enjoy the spectacular as much as anyone, but would really rather spend most of my time reading or writing, hanging out with friends, or cuddled up with a cute boy who smells good.
I’ll bet at least some of you don’t think it’s about balance at all, and unless you live life on the edge you aren’t living at all. That’s fine. For you. I will raise my glass to you when I am watching the moon come out and wish you well.