Photo via Sloan Photographers
“You are the books you read, the films you watch, the music you listen to, the people you meet,
the dreams you have, the conversations you engage in. You are what you take from these.
You are the sound of the ocean, the breath of fresh air, the brightest light
and the darkest corner. You are a collective of every experience you
have had in your life. You are every single day. So drown yourself in a sea of
knowledge and existence. Let the words run through your veins and let the colors fill your mind.”
-Author Unknown
Summer is in the air. For many of you, summer is a time of adventure. I always ponder at the end of the school year, on how much my kids have grown, and what they learned and experienced this year. My oldest will start high school in the Fall. In my reminiscing, I figured I only have four more summers after this one, and my oldest son is out of here. That’s four more summer trips. I can’t believe how time seems to fly right past us. The older I am getting, the more and more I realize how insignificant so many things in the world are. The only thing that we will take with us when we pass on to the next life are the experiences that we have had, the lessons learned, and the love we have for those around us. All of these worldly things that we strive for will mean nothing.
I have been really wondering lately if my family and I are enjoying life’s experiences as much as we can or should be. I want my kids to one day look back on their life’s experiences with fondness. I want to do the same for myself. Life is meant to be joyful. Even through the trying times, we can learn valuable and precious lessons. We can find beauty in the simplest of things. Every experience that we have, shapes us and threads part of its tapestry into our lives. The truly important things in life can’t be bought. Serving and loving those around you will bring more satisfaction and lasting joy, than anything money can buy. True happiness is never in things.
This summer, and every day of your life, let yourself live in the moment. Stop digging up the soil from your past that was already buried. You do not have to be the same person that you once were. You can create a new you. If you want to stop a bad habit you can. If you want to be a better friend, you can. If you want to beat an addiction, or overcome fear and anxiety, or beat your depression, you can. I am not the same person I once was. Even the experiences that I would never wish to go through again, shaped me into the person I am. Let yourself go with the flow, and take each experience where it is going to take you. Surround yourself with those that bring you up. You have to get rid of negative and toxic people around you. That doesn’t mean you don’t care about them, but it just means that you want something different in your life, and you need positive people around you to help you along your way. Stop comparing yourself to everyone around you. Put your phones down and enjoy your loved ones more. Go outside and enjoy this beautiful Earth that we live in. Make lasting memories. Find your true purpose in life. Be the best you that you can be. Live each day with your head held high, knowing that you are a magnificent soul that has unique gifts that only you can share with the world. Learn to love yourself more fully, then you will be able to love others more fully as well. There is divinity in our life’s experiences, and there is divinity in you. As you go through your life’s experiences, may you learn to recognize the light and true divinity that resides in your soul, and may you always hold on to that light.
Hope On. Journey On.
Jenna