Category: reflections

“Not How Long, But How Well You Lived is the Main Thing” – Seneca

Daily writing prompt
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?
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Yesterday I turned 51. My cousin and I were laughing about how turning 50 is this huge milestone that we make a big deal about and then you turn 51. No fanfare. Just another birthday. But I guess it’s what you make of it. One thing I did say on my birthday last year was that I felt like I was just starting the second half of my life and I still feel that way. Who knows, a physically long life may very well be in the cards for me. What matters more, though, is what I do with my here and now as tomorrow is not promised to me.

I am learning to focus on the things that are in my control for example:

  • How long I live is not really in my control, so I am not too concerned about it. What’s in my control is what I can do to remain healthy so that I have a good quality of life if I live a long life.
  • It is also in my control to keep learning so that I keep earning if I live a long life.
  • It’s also in my control to enjoy new experiences as often as I can
  • Showing kindness every day, teaching someone something new and sharing a smile with everyone I see, whether I know them or not, is definitely in my control. Why not make someone’s day?
  • It is also in my control to let go and let God every day, as ironic as that sounds.

I would love to live a long life, to have all the experiences I would like, and, more importantly, to watch my son grow into the amazing man I can see he is becoming and to meet and help raise my grandchildren at some point. However, none of that is 100% in my control, and I am ok with that. I am grateful for the here and now that I do have.

What are your thoughts on the concept?

Thanks for popping by. Be blessed.

“You’re not defined by your past experiences. You’re prepared by them.”― Anthony Does

Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

Oooh, that’s another good question that got me thinking. If you had asked me this question 16 or so years ago, it would definitely have been the past. I was so focused on what was left behind that I didn’t give much thought to the future. This had such a negative impact on my life.

I was such an angry and probably moody, depressed person because I wanted it all back, and, to be honest, I was terrified of looking forward. I didn’t know where to start rebuilding.

Then, through Oprah’s show, I discovered the power of now and the law of attraction, and I started focusing on the now and building the future. It’s a journey—one where I constantly have to be mindful of my thoughts.

Where I was once very judgemental and resentful, I now try to be positive and see the positive in others first. However, if my instincts tell me to steer clear of someone, I listen because some element of that person will do me more harm than good. Not deliberately, but they are to be treated as a ship passing in the night. I still have to master the art of seeing possibilities within problems, but at least I am conscious of it so I can keep working on it.

Image: Canva

The other benefit of anchoring in the now and looking forward is that I am always filled with faith and hope. The world seems brighter, and I feel lighter. It’s a much happier place to be. I still get disappointed when things take longer to fall into place than I would like, but I do know that it will eventually, so I don’t dwell on the disappointment. It also means I don’t dwell in anger either. Living in the now also means that you have to accept what is. So yes, I still get angry, but I can let go and move on once I have accepted what is.

An interesting lesson I have learned is that the past has a way of popping up when I enter a new phase in my life which requires me to make some changes. I become aware of experiences in the past that caused me to hold myself back in some way. This helps me figure out the changes I need to make within in order to become who I need to be to achieve my next goal. I don’t dwell on the past though. I sit with what comes up for as long as I need to understand the lesson and move on.

So, to answer the question, I spend more time in the now with the future firmly in my sights.

Thanks for popping in. Let me know in the comments where your focus lies and why.

Every Sunset Brings the Promise of a New Dawn

I love that quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It’s Day 31 of Bloganuray!!!

Today’s prompt: Where is the best place to watch the sunset near you?

Oh wow it is the end of January and therefore, the end of Bloganuary. It’s been a great reminder that I can actually write every day if I put my mind to it. Thank you WordPress for the challenge. I have also found new and interesting blogs to follow, met some cool people, discovered new books to add to my (already very long) reading list and picked up a few great tips on blogging. Let’s not forget that I wrote my first poem as well! This has really being a good month!

Now for the prompt. Well, as it turns out, the back of my home faces south west so I often get to witness the sun’s last hoorah for the day.

A winter sunset from our complex’s car park
A summer sunset form the car park.

I know that you cannot actually see the where the sun went down in the winter pic but you can get a sense of it. I have only just noticed how the position of the sun differs between the seasons in these pics. I tried to capture the sun’s position in the east on the solstice days last year but I wasn’t very successful. My son’s school is near the sea which is in the east for us. I think this year I need to find a good spot where I can capture the sun in summer especially as the difference in position is quite huge.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to read my blog this month. Thank to all who took the time to comment as well. I hope to “bump into you” on WordPress again in the near future so don’t be a stranger 😊 Bye for now.