The journey of living…
Through a life filled with living…
But what does that really mean, is it different for each individual, Is there a definition of a life which is truly lived. I don’t know let me google it…
This is what Google thinks…
A life full of living, or living life to the fullest, means different things to different people, but generally involves experiencing as much as possible, pursuing personal goals, and prioritising what brings meaning and joy. It's about embracing experiences, learning, and finding satisfaction in both the highs and lows. This could involve actively pursuing passions, taking risks, or simply finding contentment in everyday moments.
I’ve spoken to a few people over the past few days about their life including decisions made, their way of life and if they have any regrets.
What I’ve became aware of it something that is very obvious but I had never thought about consciously, no one person is the same, also the assumptions we can make of a stranger can be completely different to who they are.
I came across a 82 year old man the other day, a stranger. I love when strangers feel comfortable enough to talk to me, to share parts of their life that I otherwise could never have known, we had a very long conversation in a churchyard while the sun was beaming down. He was so friendly and willing to speak so I stay sat there comfortably and listened to a shortened version of the journey that has been his life.
He’s done a lot, been to a lot of places, and experienced many, many things.
I asked him if he regretted anything in his life. He said no confidently while smiling, to understand what a life full of living is for one person can teach us something about what it means to have a life full of living for ourself.
To live a life based on the right now, to continuously notice the things around us, the noises, the people, the colours, to be present every day so it doesn’t pass by you.
This man spoke about his past fondly, but even at 82 he has just sold his home with no idea of where he is going next, I found it pretty amazing. He was just going with the flow, the flow of life which could take him down any path, and he seemed excited regardless of which path it was, he was quite literally living in the moment.
To create our own life full of living I think we must live far away from regret, to understand that everything we’ve done, every version of ourselves that we’ve been has led us to who we are in this moment right now.
As I’m sat in the local park writing this surrounded by flowers, plants, fountains and many others. A group of children, I’m assuming 14/15 year olds are sat behind me, they are being extremely loud and pretty X rated for 5pm in the park. This makes me think back to me at that age, the moment of realisation that comes with knowing that was over 10 years ago is scary. But regardless of who they are right now, of how they act or speak. They will be completely different people in 10 years time.
I could not have guessed, not in my biggest imagination that I would be who I am now, I’m not sure what I would’ve dreamed to be but I doubt I could have fathomed any part of who I am today.
What I do know is 14 year old me would have seen me and wanted to be like me when she was older and that’s pretty cool.
I believe that peace comes from noise, I would shout and scream and that age but never now. I would fight and argue but never now. Sometimes you have to go through insanity to find peace in sanity. I love who I am today, 14 year old me needed a me but I think she did a pretty good job regardless.
A life full of living means simply living. It is that simple, being who you are in that moment, we are ever changing. There is no point forcing anything, no point wishing things were different but that doesn’t mean we can’t make changes for a different future. Trying to force things, to wish we were someone else, somewhere else doing something else is almost like trying to time travel. You’re trying to skip past the best part.
The journey is the best part, the destination is something we hope to never reach because that would mean the journey is over.
Don’t do yourself the dis justice of trying to skip past the best parts, don’t fall asleep at the wheel or stop looking out the window. We learn everything in the process, the destination is just a bonus. However I guarantee you when you reach it you will set a new one in your maps, to the next place.
Remember to look around, to say how you feel, to smile just ‘because’, to know that our past cannot help us in our present.
Create your own life which is filled with living.
One which you can smile fondly at when you reach 82 knowing you wouldn’t change a single thing.
Sending Love, K.