Long ago I began to look at life like a buffet with many choices. I like that metaphor because it points to the control we have in life. While yes, there are limitations, there is also a lot of choice when it comes to how you'll lead your life.
The one challenge with the lifestyle buffet is that we simply can't be and do all things. It's impossible. For example, recently I had a tough challenge on my plate, a challenge I didn't have to meet and one that I kept avoiding. Today I simply decided that while the challenge is worthy and would add positivity to my life, I am simply taking it off my list since there are other life events and challenges that are more important to who I am and what I want out of life. I simply can't do or be all things, but I can enjoy the stories and experiences of those who do make the challenge I took off my plate one that they will pursue.
I wish someone had introduced me to the notion earlier that one can live a bigger life simply by embracing the experiences of others. While we can't do or be all things, we can enjoy aspects of life that are not ours via friends and loved ones' stories, collegial efforts, and teamwork. This broadens who we are, what we can do, and our ultimate experience of life.
This morning as I consider my lifestyle buffet, I return to my favorites:
The one challenge with the lifestyle buffet is that we simply can't be and do all things. It's impossible. For example, recently I had a tough challenge on my plate, a challenge I didn't have to meet and one that I kept avoiding. Today I simply decided that while the challenge is worthy and would add positivity to my life, I am simply taking it off my list since there are other life events and challenges that are more important to who I am and what I want out of life. I simply can't do or be all things, but I can enjoy the stories and experiences of those who do make the challenge I took off my plate one that they will pursue.
I wish someone had introduced me to the notion earlier that one can live a bigger life simply by embracing the experiences of others. While we can't do or be all things, we can enjoy aspects of life that are not ours via friends and loved ones' stories, collegial efforts, and teamwork. This broadens who we are, what we can do, and our ultimate experience of life.
This morning as I consider my lifestyle buffet, I return to my favorites:
- family
- a welcoming home
- time to dream, think, research, and write
- teamwork and good teaching
- contribution
- championing efforts that better lives in ways great and small
- natural beauty
- simplicity
Those are themes I return to again and again at the lifestyle buffet. Themes that I enjoy vicariously via the stories and experiences of others include extreme sports, athletic challenges, artistic endeavor, fine dining/cooking, travel, financial success, and more. Rather than meeting the differences that others represent with envy or disdain, I prefer to be curious and interested in lives different than mine with the knowledge that we can't be all things, and the differences we encounter for the most part make life more interesting and full for each of us. Onward.