On the surface my life is quite ordinary. I'm not a billionaire. I don't own three gargantuan homes, a fleet of ridiculously expensive cars or a private jet. I don't have a personal chef, a housekeeper or a butler. I don't have a giant walk-in closet with 3,000 pair of designer shoes, an expensive evening gown for every day of the year or a jewelry box full of diamonds. And I'm not sitting on the beach on a tropical island sipping a margarita as I write this. (Although I'm working on that last part...how cool would that be?!)
Despite not having all those things, I live an extraordinary life. I live a life that for most of my life I never even dared to dream of. More than that...that I didn't even know was possible. It was so far out of my experience that I couldn't conceive of living the life I do now.
but by the moments that take our breath away.” - anonymous
You see, I'm not a materialistic person and I don't measure my life by the things I own or the balance in my checking account. I measure my life, as the quote above says, by the moments that take my breath away. My life is not extraordinary because of untold material riches, but because of the richness of the experiences each day brings. It's in the little but oh-so-meaningful things...
It's waking each morning wrapped in my honey's arms, the feeling of being so well-loved filling my being.
It's the sound of the birds chirping outside our window as the early dawn light softly fills the room.
It's our sweet puppy greeting us with unrestrained enthusiasm and excitement after we've been gone, whether for five minutes or five hours, or watching her romp with the other dogs at the doggie swimming pool.
It's tickle time with my honey's boys, the sound of their laughter, or the look in their eyes when they gaze so adoringly at their dad.
It's the unexpected phone call from my son (calling from CA) to share some news, or simply to say hi.
It's the sound of my son's laughter and the sparkle in his eyes when he teases me.
It's witnessing a client's spontaneous "a-ha!" moment, or hearing the joy in their voice after a new breakthrough.
It's brainstorming a new idea or project with a colleague that sparks even greater passion for the work I do.
It's the sight of my honey coming up the walkway after work, and the soft, sweet kiss that follows.
It's that first bite of a delicious meal, or the first sip of a really good espresso or wine.
It's the feel of the sun, and a cool breeze, on my skin on a warm summer day.
It's a cold beer on a hot afternoon.
It's the sight of a beautiful rainbow after an afternoon thunderstorm or the amazing sunset that lights the sky up with shades of orange, pink, and purple.
It's kicking back in my favorite comfy spot with a good book, indulging in a luxurious massage, or catching up with a friend.
It's the long, heart-to-heart talk with my honey that lingers into the wee hours of the morning.
It's waking early on the weekend to realize I don't have to be up and snuggling back in for another hour or two.
It's cruising along in my sweet little honda civic on a gorgeous day with the tunes cranked up, singing and moving to the rhythm of an upbeat song.
It's laughing with my honey until we cry and our sides hurt.
I could go on and on. My life is filled with these moments, as I'm sure yours is too. What makes them extraordinary, what makes my life extraordinary, is living in the moment, being fully present for these moments. Reveling in them, savoring them, opening my heart and soul fully to them, and truly appreciating them.
It's brought me indescribable joy, made my life (and my biz) so much more meaningful and fulfilling that even in those moments that are less joyful, or downright hard, there's an underlying sense of peace and well-being.
Extraordinary is one of those illusive words that has different meanings for different people. Only you can define what an extraordinary life is for you. How is your life extraordinary? And if it isn't, what do you need to do to open more fully to your life and to the precious moments that can make it extraordinary?
Photo originally uploaded by dtcchc
Great post! Now, if we can only remember those moments in the midst of panic attacks, screaming clients and traffic jams :)
We made the decision to live an extraordinary life when we realized that 10 years had gone by and we were still doing the same thing.
Since we sold our home, business and almost everything we owned to hit the road and see the country, we have seen and done more in the last 15 months than we have in the last 15 years.
When life gets boring, shake it up. It goes by far too quickly.
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Posted by: Rene | June 13, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Lisa, you must have been reading my mind. Just the other day I was thinking about "the measurement of success" and how everyone has different ideas/perceptions of success. Like you, I am not materialistic, it is the small things that matter most. Thank you for the reminder and for re-introducing me to that wonderful quote.
Posted by: Pam | June 16, 2008 at 06:56 AM
@Rene - LOL! Yes, learning to remember these moments even in the midst of chaos is the trick, but I've discovered that life has a way of giving us plenty of opportunity for practice. :)
I love a good road trip and I think it's too cool that you and your husband hit the road for a long sabbatical. (My longest road trip was 6 weeks, and it was an amazing experience I'll never forget.)
I love it that you're blogging about the experience too, and I look forward to enjoying more of your posts.
Thanks so much for taking the time to pop in and to share your thoughts, Rene.
@Pam - Hey girl! Too funny. I often think you've been reading my mind when you post to your blogs. :) I think we just happen to be walking very similar paths.
Yes, success can mean a multitude of things to different people, but to my mind no level of financial or material success holds much meaning without those moments that take your breath away, and the people we love to share them.
Posted by: Lisa Wilder | June 17, 2008 at 07:36 AM