The Difference Between Existing and Living
Do you go through each day feeling like you live in the matrix?
You know what I'm talking about, don't you? You get up everyday and pretty much do the same things. You go to a job you hate, you talk to coworkers you might not exactly care for. You look at the clock at work and can't wait for it to be over, only to come home and veg out in front of the TV. Now this is existing.
Aren't you tired of this kind of life?
I can tell you I am! I had a realization a few days ago of how short life is and that existing is a waste of that time. I'm tired of going through each day hoping for something different to happen so it can break the monotony of my day. The good thing is that my wife agrees with me, so God-willing, we will work with everything in us this year to make way for our dreams to come true in 2013. WE have loved being with family and friends here in Wisconsin but after vacationing in Hawaii its been our dream to retire there. We talked and wondered, why retire? Why not live there? So that's what we're doing, saving and tieing up loose ends in 2012 and in 2013, move to Hawaii!
I'm going to ask you again, are you existing or are you living each moment as if it's your last?
Look you might be living out your dreams right now and if you are, kudos. I know it's a privilege just to be alive, so don't sit here and think I'm complaining, I'm not. What I'm talking about is the fact that God means for us to be happy and live happy lives. He means for us to follow our dreams and encourage others to as well. What things have you dreamed of in your life? Are you at your dream job? Are you active with your kids everyday? Do you read or write or do anything intellectual? Do you get up, go to work, get home and watch the latest prime time shows all night? I think you see what I'm saying and if you just don't have the energy because life feels overwhelming, then it's time for a change!
So bottom line it, what's the difference?
The main difference is your attitude towards what you do which affects how you do it and how you feel about your life:
Existing:
"I'm really not looking forward to work on Monday"
"I just don't have the energy to work out today"
"The kids have another play, didn't we just go to one?"
"I'm not going anywhere on my vacation, I'm going to stay home and catch up on sleep"
"I only have three years until retirement, so I'll do more things then"
Living:
"I can't wait for Monday because I'm going to help people"
"I had the best workout today, I felt like I could go another thirty minutes"
"The kids only have seven events at school this year? Bummer, we'll have to come up with our own extra events"
"I just got back from a week in Mexico, that's four different countries we've gone to this year"
" I don't think I could ever retire from doing this business that I absolutely love"
Now to be fair you might not be able to go to four different countries because of finances, I get that, but could you afford to go to two if you cut out eating out all the time? I get that it can be busy at work which makes you too tired to go to the play, but are you tired from doing a job that is meaningful and helps people? If not, why are you wasting your time?
"I got bills to pay", I get that, so do I, but is that all life is about, paying bills? Look, don't go out and quit your job and move to Hawaii with no plan, that's stupid! The way my wife and I are doing it is to sit down, figure out the expenses and save each week, we have a game plan, and you need one too. If you develop a step by step plan, make it realistic and stick to it, then in a year or however long it takes, then you'll be living out your dreams in no time!
I hope you don't read this and think that this is "pie in the sky", people live out or start out on their dreams everyday, you can too! Life is too short, we can't just exist anymore, WE HAVE TO LIVE!
Are you living or existing? Let us know in the comments:
