Maybe its a quarter of a century thing - feeling as though I'm "running out of time" with a list of goals and dreams that just grows by the day! I know I'm not alone in feeling as though I am "failing" or not doing as well as I'd hoped at this stage of my life. Maybe that's pressure I've put on myself or maybe it's external, societal pressure. Either way it's not good and needs to change!
I was inspired to write this post after watching a play called Road by Jim Cartwright. I've seen it about 6 times now (I have the best job ever!) and with each time, my empathy for the play's seemingly helpless characters grows.
The show is set on a "road" in an 80's Northern England. People are losing their jobs, England is at an all time low and many of the characters turn to drink, sex and even suicide, to dull the pain of life. The play features many different characters, all emotionally baring - whether fired up with rage or torn with sadness. But, it's the glimmer of hope in the final scene that I feel most strongly about. Four characters listen to Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" on vinyl and shout about their frustrations and desires for a better world for themselves; Feeling like they are trapped and wasting their lives away day after day with nothing to prove for it...
It is then, that my empathetic ear becomes all too empathetic as I begin to compare my own life and feelings of dissatisfaction with theirs. This is silly as I have a great job and I have accomplished things, but that ever growing list of accomplishments *not yet achieved* sometimes feels as though it's being pulled out from under me. It's then that I need to allow myself to celebrate the successes I have had!
From my up and coming acting career, to my life as a blogger. Travelling the world teaching children drama - from California to Italy and even Ukraine, who knows who's lives I may have changed! Then there's using my social media platforms, such as Twitter, to raise awareness for important issues- maybe just one person stopped and thought for a second about something I tweeted about, which is amazing! Supporting other bloggers and performers and making connections with people all around the world and many more things, big and small! These are just a few of my accomplishments from the past 2 years and here I am, acknowledging them.
I also acknowledge that I don't want to just stop there, I want to do so much more...
Meaningful Success
I read an article today from Truth Theory that really struck a chord with me. It was about a 24 year old man who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I won't explain too much and just insert a few quotes;
True living is being present in every moment — no matter how mundane, facing a new fear each day, celebrating past and present relationships with friends and family members, exploring and enjoying the outdoors, setting and meeting new goals, and living charitably.
I realised that the most important thing about death is to ensure that you leave this world a little better than it was before you existed with your contributions.
You can float through a life created by circumstances, missing day after day, hour after hour. Or, you can fight for what you believe in and write the great story of your life.
Leave a mark in this world. Have a meaningful life, whatever definition it has for you. Go towards it. The place we are leaving is a beautiful playground, where everything is possible. Yet, we are not here forever. Our life is a short spark in this beautiful little planet that flies with incredible speed to the endless darkness of the unknown universe. So, enjoy your time here with passion. Make it interesting. Make it count!
If you do anything today, I would encourage you to take a few minutes to really celebrate and revel in YOU. You and your success. Forget about what you want to achieve for a minute, stop comparing your success to other's, and be proud of what you have achieved!
Then, if you still have a little of those minutes left, start making plans to rock this world!
Eb x
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