Blog

Today

You cannot live in the past; it is just a memory.
You cannot live in the future; it is just your imagination.
You can only be in the present.

"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." John Lennon


I am not qualified to give any advice about how to live your life, what thoughts to have, with whom to share your time. Real-life is the only source of my opinions.  But the process of writing helps me organize my thoughts. It helps me keep going.

There is no doubt that the sum of our experiences makes us the one-and-only person that we are. The most significant contribution an artist can make is to share her unique view of life with others. It is also the only thing original.   

And it is nice to have good memories. Maybe not so nice to have bad ones, but they are just memories.

The future is only our imagination. I am from the Midwest but have lived in Seattle for over 20 years. I used to say that, when I was young, I never imagined that I would spend most of my life in the Pacific Northwest.  See, that word, "imagined. "

What we do have control over is our lives today. You are the only person with true custodianship over your life;

Over your thoughts;
Over your decisions on how to spend your time;
Over what matters to your soul.

You can choose to have a life where you are not alone; focus on spending quality time with people instead of browsing online or sitting on the sofa every night watching TV.

You can choose to have a less hurried life; decide to spend less so you can have more time.

You can choose to be reflective and contemplative about your life; look out the window, watch it rain, and see where your thoughts go.

You can choose good health; take the time to eat real food, and save fast food for the people in a hurry.

You can choose to work at love, kiss your significant other, hug your kids, tell a friend you love them.  

You can choose to be generous.

You can choose to live instead of merely exist.  

I think contentment, and maybe happiness, comes from realizing you have these choices.

I get so confused sometimes about life. If anything, I am the person who thinks about it too much. Who wonders too much how my decisions today will impact my tomorrow. Who strives a little too hard to experience everything, to live that life less ordinary.

I was trying to decide on something once and talking it over with my mother. I don't remember the resolution or conversation, but I remember her conveying that "there is no dress rehearsal. You only get one chance." I think about this often.  

No matter how the future turns out, at least I know I cared enough to try. I tried to love others;

To be generous and soulful;
To raise good kids;
To make the world a little more beautiful.

So that in 30 years, or however long God gives me on this earth, I can look back on my past without regret. I can look back and say I loved the journey and tried my best.