A Day In the Life...

Well it's my very first day of a blogger's life and my mind draws a blank. Isn't it amazing that for MONTHS now, I've been meaning to start a blog as a way to highlight life's little ups-and-downs and just genuinely speak about mind-boggling things. And the day my mind freezes up is the day that I create my blog?!?! Guess this means it's time for topics......First thing that comes to mind is the simple things.

I've recently been suffering from losses encompassed in several realms of our workplace over the past few weeks...and it recently triggered the topic of "How We Handle the Little Things in Life." Yes, this topic is one that is cumbersome to discuss. It almost seems as though it has been under recent burn-out; with literature and articles, and books on self lessons. However, living in Los Angeles has brought some developing perspective in my life, as it relates to the subject.

Having grown-up in Iowa for the first 18 years of my life, I had to take the road-less-traveled as a college freshman, where I ventured out to begin my college dreams in Tucson, Arizona. Upon transferring from ju-co I moved to Iowa City, Iowa; and from there life was expanded in places like Phoenix, Arizona; Rochester, Minnesota; Baltimore, Maryland; and in multiple communities throughout the Los Angeles area. Through recent loss of family and clientelle throughout the workforce, the topic of "Appreciating the Little Things" has taken on a completely new meaning. From the very current economic crisis, to the despair of losing a close family member, to the everyday stresses of family life, we all are affected by these triggers. The biggest difference is the way we handle things....Especially, in trying economic times, and all along while I live in a city that "feels" the burdens of these stresses.

Some perspective: Two adults are running errands on a Thursday evening, Maria is turning out of the grocery store parking lot, headed back home to her family. Jonathan is turning in, in a fury. The two automobiles crash and both people are instantly killed. Jonathan was the CEO of an international corporation, driving his Mercedes Benz, with billions of dollars in the bank and even more in investments. Maria, the single mother of two; with a job as a caregiver. She lived paycheck-to-paycheck. Both individuals are now gone. Looking back on their lives, do either of the two have any regrets? Have they lived completely fulfilling lives? If they could look back, were they truly happy? In their own rights, they probably were, but the moral of this story is not if they lived truly happy lives....It's that, in the end, both of them were given an unfortunate and unexpected circumstance...And now, although they had entirely dramatic ends to their lives on earth ~ they are now both in death's hands.

Sounds dreary, but the questions that puzzle me include: Do we all live our lives in complete and utter happiness? Are we truly and morally content in our minds, our bodies, and our decisions? Do we take time to slow down and take one last look to the left before driving through a stop sign? Are we out rushing around, just to get somewhere faster? Are we angry at the car ahead of us because they still have their left blinker on? Are we slowing down on our walks to smell some flowers? Are we waiting an extra 30 seconds while a little old couple walks across the street? Can we really just slow down and appreciate life in our world?

Living in a city like Los Angeles I feel the fury of people hustling and bustling. I can feel this anger in the tone of voices in this city....And it's really sad. Often I blame it on the stresses of the economy bogging us all down, but lately I feel as though it's just how life is nowadays. It's one big fury of exploiting our money, spending when we don't need to, and carrying on when it really isn't worth the effort.

In the end we are all people who were born into a world that was originated to enjoy. Now we are all just caught up in a mess of fury. Life is much too short on earth. Taking time to reflect on our own life goals before the New Year...and as the economy spins unconditionally ~ can only put our gifts into perspective. Slow down, love one another, and don't take forgranted that in the end, we all end up in the same glorious place. We might as well enjoy this one.