LIVING LIFE OUT LOUD AND SLOWING DOWN….
There are 3 things that we know for sure about life: it has a beginning, it will end some day, and we should make the most of it while in between.
It’s the gap – the in between that I want to write about today.
This is what I call the GAP – the place between 2 places.
How are you living in the gap?
Are you living in a timid place full of fear?
-or-
Are you living in JOY full of laughter and peace?
To fully live life out loud means to smell the roses, enjoy the view, take the opportunity to meet and smile at a stranger and truly touch a life for that moment in time.
Sometimes we take life so seriously that we forget to exhale. We run from one place to the next place and forget where we’ve been. RUSH, FAST, HURRY is part of our vocabulary. We don’t make time for ourselves because we’re too busy taking care of everyone else. We even think it’s selfish to make time for ourselves.
Allow me to dispel that myth.
It’s okay to take care of yourself – to breathe – to exhale.
In my opinion, if you don’t exhale then you are probably almost on the verge of burnout. It’s time to charge your batteries and take care of YOU.
So I believe there is a co-relation between slowing down and living your life out loud.
Do the things that matter most in life like spending time with your family, your loved ones. Take the time to show the most important people in your life that they matter and you care. Take the time to spend with friends. Take that spontaneous trip. In fact, I write this post on an airplane flying to Chicago. My son is a pilot and he had sent me a text the night before stating he was flying to my town and if I wanted to catch a flight to Chicago with him since he had a few days off. I pondered, and yes I was busy with work but I had the opportunity and I seized the moment – YES – I will! Work will always be there, errands to run will be run, work will get done but precious moments with loved ones leave you with the memories of a lifetime. So memories I created by going to Chicago with Kevin.
“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.” Robert Louis Stevenson
Remember, may the possibilities of today excite you!
Dear Nancy – my dear BFF -
Spending that time with Kevin is a memory he will never forget. Neither will you. A precious time. Even if you had to let a few things go. They get done.
I am recognizing that today because I am seriously snowed in and it is wind chill at 3 below. Chicago won’t plow my small street for a few days.
At first I was so annoyed that I could have lopped off a number of errands on my to do list yesterday.
I was walking to my car when a virtual white out started. Turned around.
They will wait.
So nice you got on that stand by flight when we were having unusual mild weather.
Thanks for reminding us about what is important.
You have to keep doing your job on your blog.
Corinne Edwards recently posted..SHOW ME THE MONEY YOU PROMISED – James Lander
My dear friend and BFF Corinne,
First of all thanks for putting things into perspective – it’s 47 degrees and Sunny here in Carolina ~ winter has definitely made it to Chicago!
Yes, things will wait and can wait. Glad you are safe and sound at home my friend.
Thank you for always being there for me,
In gratitude,
Nancy
We are making moves here to be able to travel easier. We think we have found a pet/house sitter who will stay at the house while we are gone (last time we left with just some house visits – my cat broke her leg while we were gone) We love having animals, but we also want to be able to travel more without worrying so it is on our vision board to get this taken care of. But other things require nothing more than just a phone call. And still other things require just walking outside with a camera and the quiet.
Nicole Rushin recently posted..Exit Stage Left
My friend Nicole – AHHHH the sound of divine order – Perfect!
Travel – adventure – exploration – it’s all good my friend!
Love the sound of walking outside with a camera – the beauty lies right in your own backyard…..
The invitation is still open to visit the beach for you and Reed….
In gratitude to your thoughts my friend,
Nancy
Your post is a reminder of the fact we’re here, on planet Earth, on return tickets. Certainty reigns – or so you’d think – about having completed the first leg of the journey. The only thing open is the timing of the return. To think that some spend the time ‘here’ simply waiting for the return ‘there’, fearful … Makes you appreciate all the more – or so you’d think – that others instead use time ahead of the return trip by, say, composing music that uses tone only as a means to create space – or in the terminology of your post: to create gap – between the tones. You’re right, there are so many possibilities to celebrate life, why even think it’s selfish to do so?
Beat Schindler recently posted..It Has Never Always Been That Way
AMEN Beat!!!!!
I love your energy and the words you used. The analogy of composing music – the sweet sound of life and all that is available to us when we live with our eyes WIDE OPEN.
No selfishness involved here – just love for self and once we truly love ourselves then the doors open to more possibilities….
Thank you and know that I honor your insight!
Nancy
This is a lesson I’ve had to learn over and over and over. Sometimes, we get so overwhelmed with our to-do lists that we feel like a circus plate spinner – running frantically from plate to plate to keep them all from crashing. When we realized that it’s okay to let go . . . to allow some of those plates to fall . . . and become STILL, the frenzy and chaos are quieted. Others may show up to pick up some of those plates and take care of the spinning; or, you may discover that life goes on quite well without your crazy circus performance. Letting go, being still – honoring YOU and YOUR needs is the key.
Trisha Barnes recently posted..Affordable RV Living…
Hello Trisha,
Your words are insightful and so very true – I like your analogy of the circus plates spinning (very good)! Those plates can’t spin forever and eventually like you said, they will fall or we ask for relief by getting others involved in the plate spinning.
I love the sound of letting go, being still and honoring YOU and YOUR needs – truly blissful!
Thank you and good to see you here,
Nancy
Nancy,
thanks for your note from yesterday! It was our pleasure(me and Toby) to meet you at the gazebo on Thursday. I am now connected and look forward to continuing communication! Your message of Live out Loud and slowing down speaks to me and our conversation on Thursday. Thought the two can seem to be opposites they can live and thrive in the same sentence therefore in someones life. As I am a go-go gal I’m finding that living out loud can consist of just BE-ing. I embrace this concept especially in January as we reflect on the new year and as I gaze at the sea in beautiful CB.
Blessings!!!
Hello Lisa and good to see you here ~ how’s that sweet Toby – I’m sure living in the moment and frolicking in the sand!
So good to meet you a few days ago at the gazebo … I call these random encounters that leave you feeling good.
Yes living out loud is all about just BE-ing – you got it!
Have fun this weekend with your loved one,
Nancy
Nancy, you have graced us with Life’s importance with this piece.
be good to yourself
David
David Stevens recently posted..Living Life Today….. Choices, intentional & unintentional
Hello David – thank you for your kind words of grace.
May your light continue to shine,
Nancy
Good on you for seizing the opportunity. You’re right that we don’t take time off often enough to do the things that actually matter – the things that enrich our lives. I wish I could slow down enough to write down the things that matter to me, then take the time to do them. It seems that the most important things like family, friends and laughter get left behind in favour of the things that make us most stressed.
Great article.
Anne recently posted..Confidence Building Activities
Thank you my friend for the validation of seizing the opportunity – for too much fun is never enough!
If you wish it then you can make it happen – take the time to make the wish come true!
Your words are very insightful and wise – so true that so many leave behind the things that make us laugh and enJOY and thrive on the things that make us most stressed – “what’s up with that?”
In love and light,
Nancy
Love your blog, so am adding you to my blog roll.
Anne recently posted..Boost Confidence When Feeling Low
Thank you Anne and I have gone to your website and love your blog too – I will have you added to my blog roll also.
In gratitude,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thank you for the reminder to just do it! I know just where you are coming from.
After hubby being gone for work for 4 months and finally coming home December 23rd. I took time off to fly to Texas to drive home with him and then we both took the week off between Christmas and New years to enjoy each other. It was wonderful.
We have to learn to keep a balance and enjoy life. Hope you enjoyed your time with Kevin.
Corinne glad you are safe. Did hear on the news that you guys were getting hit.
You take care Nancy and blessing to you,
Debbie
Debbie recently posted..The 5 Laws to Contribute to Your Relationship Instead of Contaminating It
Hello Debbie and YES “DO IT”…… I know you know where I’m coming from for you walk the talk.
Glad to hear you had precious time with your hubby; memories created and spending time with a loved one is pure JOY!
Balance and enjoyment – like @Beat Schindler states: Words of Wisdom (W.O.W.)
In love, light and bliss,
Nancy
I love the point you make about slowing down Nancy.
I used to rush around like crazy, trying to get this and that done, always thinking there wasn’t enough time. Truth is, I was so caught up in my own fears, I wasn’t really ‘living’ at all. By slowing down, being in the present more often, without the useless mental chatter has made life so much more fun. I actually feel I’m ‘living’ now.
Hello Hiten and happy to see you here ~
It’s all about slowing down and smelling the roses, seeing the sunrises and the many different opportunities to touch lives.
I like the point that you make about being caught up in your own fears – getting rid of the monkey talk and listening to the peace within the soul – bliss!
Happy to hear that you were able to change and truly start living now.
You may want to check out my blog on living in the moment: http://blog.makegirlfriends.com/how-do-you-live-your-life-to-the-fullest.html
In living in the Moment,
Nancy
Hi Nancy, this is just to follow up something you said in the comment you left on my blog (thanks for visiting). You said you had someone who did your links. I’m looking for someone to do some tech stuff for me on my blogs – SEO, coding etc. I’m sorry for leaving this here, but I can’t find any other means of contacting you on your blog.
I can’t afford much, I just want someone to fill in where I can’t reach because of my limited tech knowledge. Is this something your guy can do?
Anne recently posted..Celebs With Body Confidence
In Shambhala meditation training, we learned about the “gap” between our experience of something and the stories that we almost immediately start to tell ourselves about it. The gap is that space of pure experience, without judgment, without fear. The gap is where we live out loud!
Galen Pearl recently posted..In the Softness
Hello Galen,
I love living in the gap – the space of pure experience, without judgement, without fear – truly wonderful place to be!
Yes, the gap is where we do live out loud!
Abundant Blessings,
Nancy
AMEN on living your love out loud. I titled my blog that because I agree with this philosophy BIGTIME. THanks for using the perfect words to challenge us to LIVE it instead of jsut talking about it.
Heather Novak recently posted..Bacon Before Husband- Life Priorities and The Happy List
Amen Heather and KUDOS to you for naming your blog that wonderful name of Living Your Life Out Loud – I will stop in and visit.
Walk the walk and talk the talk….
Living in the possibilities of life,
Nancy
Hi Nancy, It’s never a bad idea to slow down and live out loud. It beats the routine, and we’re all so tired of routines. If we can get into the right ones, it can make the difference, but if we’re not living out loud, the mindless routine wins every time.
Bryan Thompson recently posted..Have You Kept Your Resolution? Here are 4 Ways to Create Lasting Change
Hello Bryan – You got it – not a bad idea – in fact, it’s a great idea to slow down and live life out loud!
I enjoyed reading your insight on mindless routines and how they win every time – so true. So to get out of the mindless routines we do something out of the ordinary and live life in the possibilities.
In gratitude,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
wonderful reminder…I hope you have the best time with kevin! Yesterday i sat down with Meghann and we did some pastels together. he was awesome! She did a little “Indian girl” (a dry pastel) and i created ” Dance Rain or Shine”(an oil pastel).It was so much fun! We took pictures and everything! This morning Hugh came back from a IV call and spent some time playing a few games of pool with Gabe. You touch some really important issues and the choice is always ours to make…as you said, errands and work is always there…as for our opportunity to be with our loved ones…we need to make it work
Nathalie Villeneuve recently posted..Build Yourself a Quiet Room in Your Mind
Hello Nathalie,
I did have the best time in Chicago with Kevin. It brings a smile to my face as I picture you spending time with Meghan and your beautiful artwork. It’s so important to make our children, loved ones a priority in life – for life is so precious!
Thank you for your thoughts and insights,
Nancy