A typical Life

I’m currently reading A New Earth;  Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle and it’s a very good read.  I’m finding the book interesting on many different levels and thought that I would share this quote with you:

“Most people are only peripherally aware of the world that surrounds them, especially if their surroundings are familiar…..Some people feel more alive when they travel and visit unfamiliar places or foreign countries because at those times sense perception - experiencing - takes up more of their consciousness than thinking.”

Since arriving in Japan I am finding that  what I can do at home without expending much energy tends to exhaust me in Japan.  I am not alone, my new friends and I have been chatting about it lately and we all agree that it’s due to sensory overload, or simply processing what is not familiar in our minds.  We also think that it’s due to the fact that we are required to pay more attention simply  to accomplish every day tasks.  I touched on these things in my Japan - Awe & Wonder post a while back.

As I read through this book I am struck by how full life can be if you can only get out of your own way.  I’m trying to take the time to be present for everything and it’s amazing how amazing the little things are!

I just shipped my hubby off to Japan and now I am looking forward to joining him in a month. Over the last few weeks I have been pondering how to get the most out of the experience of living in Japan and I came across this quote from QuoteGrarden:

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.” James Michener

This has always been my philosophy and I think that I will post this on my fridge in Japan. It will remind me to make the most of this awesome opportunity that has been given to me - even on the frustrating days!

Let me start by saying these aren’t your typical new years resolutions. Of course I want to lose weight, quit smoking, be nice to the planet etc. but none of these are on the list. These are more philosophical and personal. So here they are - My 8 for 2008:

1. Keep a positive attitude in the face of adversity (i.e. being understood in Japan)
2. Learn more about myself and what I can contribute to the world… what’s my legacy?
3. Live each moment to it’s fullest - notice and appreciate the little things.
4. Keep in touch with family and friends - make new friends…
5. Learn how to use my new camera so that I can share my experiences with friends everywhere - a picture is really worth a thousand words and I want to capture more ‘emotion’ in my photographs
6. Work on my creativity - think outside the box! Design a knitted garment, write a short story, etc..
7. Don’t get bogged down with the everyday - enjoy my time in Japan to the fullest. Here’s a link to my list of things that I want to do and see.
8. Dream about what shape my future might take - if you don’t have a dream…..

7 Memorable Moments

1. Planning A Giant Luau for the San Jose Giants.
2. Watching the San Jose Giants win the California League Pennant.
3. When my step-daughter sought my advice - I never thought it would happen!
4. Turning 40 - I turned 20 in Canada, 30 in Japan, 40 in the United States and can’t wait to see where I’ll be for 50!
5. Enjoying a week-long visit with my parents in California.
6. Visiting California for an early Xmas with my step-kids.
7. Finding out that I am headed back to live in Japan.

7 Favorite Things

1. My new D-SLR camera that I will be putting to good use in Japan
2. Yarn
3. Cooking in my slow cooker
4. My Friends & Family - as each year passes they become more and more precious to me!
5. Skype -my new way to communicate with friends & family, even from Japan…
6. Knitting & Crochet - a great way to relax
7. My new Blog

7 Life Lessons

1. Good things do come to those who wait patiently and try to live a good life
2. An unexpected result is not necessarily a bad result
3. Good friends stick by you
4. Don’t take things for granted - they may end sooner than you think
5. A good marriage is hard work and a lot of compromise
6. Getting older is a state of mind
7. Live life with a sense of wonder and you will be richly rewarded

Inspired by Mary Jo at Fly Away Cafe.

Look for my 8 for 2008 tomorrow….

Life is just one adventure after another isn’t it? I know that in my life I have had adventures that make me laugh; make me cry and quite a few where I’ve thought “How the heck did I get myself into this?”. Some are typical and some atypical but they all have one thing in common – they shape who you are; what you believe and how you approach life.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary gives the follow definition:

ad·ven·ture

an exciting or remarkable experience

What is my philosophy on life? I hadn’t given it much thought until a friend came to me very troubled. She was scared and intimidated by an upcoming change in her life and didn’t know how she would handle it. I really wanted to help her so I gave her some advice. Here it is:

Change can be scary, and may not seem good at the time, but you can always gain something from any experience in your life – they are all remarkable in their own way. If you look hard there is usually something to be gained or learned, even from the bad ones!

Just take a moment to think about the memories you have that, in retrospect, give you the most laughs or the ones where you look back with pride on an accomplishment. Most of those memories were created as a result of some kind of adversity.

Up until that point I didn’t even realize that I had a philosophy for life but it became clear to me that the advice that I gave her was my philosophy. This advice/philosophy has served me well.

Life is a series of adventures and it’s hard to be negative when you are open to the possibilities of each adventure as it enfolds in front of you. You just need to take the right attitude with you everyday and enjoy the ride!

What’s your philosophy for life?