When is the second best time to rebalance your life?
Of all the things I hear during the course of my work, by far the most common is…”Everything’s crazy and overwhelming right now, but it will be better when…”
When this busy period at work is over.
When my partner’s busy period at work is over.
When this project is finished.
When I’ve finished my course.
When I’ve done my exams.
When we’ve got through this rocky patch.
When the kids start nursery.
When the kids start school.
When the kids are a bit older.
When the renovations are done.
When I can just get on top of work/the house/’things’
When…
When…
When…
As someone who witnesses this from the outside, pretty much every day, I have news for you.
When. Never. Comes.
The problem isn’t that work project. Or your exams. Or a particularly hectic time in your life.
The problem – and I say this with love – is your behaviour. The way you’re approaching what life is throwing at you. And if your behaviour doesn’t change, then when this busy period is over…
…there will be another busy period.
And another.
And another.
And that’s totally normal, and totally understandable…but once you know this, you can do something different. You can be something different.
Let me tell you a story. It’s a sad story. But there is something wonderful about it too.
At the end of last November, my brother, Bez, was gritting the road when he put out his back. It was pretty bad, he was laid up for weeks, and he went to see a chiropractor. The chiropractor told him to see his doctor. His doctor looked worried.
In the first week of January this year, he was diagnosed with cancer. In the first week of March, I held his hand while he drew his last breath.
I’m not telling you this story to shock you (although it is shocking). I’m telling you to inspire you, because he has certainly inspired me. Here’s why.
Firstly, as I sat in the hospice reminiscing about Bez’s life with his wife, my sister and other brother…it became wonderfully, joyfully clear that while his time had been cut short, he had lived the shit out of the time he had! He had said a ‘HELL YEAH!’ to every opportunity which came his way; he had partied; had fun; been joyful; loved; lost; LIVED!
Do you want to be able to say that, at the end of your life?
I know I do.
And secondly, we really, truly don’t know what’s around the corner. For us, or for our loved ones. Of course, we all know this, right? But we tuck this knowing away in a dusty, neglected corner of our mind, because it makes us uncomfortable to think about it.
But….what if that knowing didn’t make us uncomfortable?
What if, instead, we allowed that knowing to inspire us?
What if that knowing inspired us to live the most extraordinary life we can?
Who would we be then? What impact would we have on those around us? What impact would we have on the world?
It's not about living each day like it’s your last. (That’s always struck me as a little depressing and a LOT unrealistic.)
It’s about living each day like it’s the first day of the rest of your life.
The best time to rebalance your life was 20 years ago.
The second best time is now.
With Love x
(Come join us in my friendly Facebook community, Go Grab Your Life! I’ll help you to live a more extraordinary life, sometimes by telling stories involving ice cream. Join us here!)
