Today marks the 1-year-anniversary of 6 Months to Live! It’s been quite the week leading up to this moment: featured on Freshly Pressed for the first time, feeling incredible highs and lows, and reconnecting with numerous friends to name a few of the highlights of the past 7 days.
If I had to single out one overarching theme or thought from the week it would be that we’re all connected. I’ve made the assumption for most of my life that no one else could really understand me, but due to life circumstances this week, I was forced to reach out to others in a way that I had not done before. I was shocked to find that everyone I talked to could relate partially or entirely to the feelings I had. What a relief!
As my friends and I drank from a celebratory bottle of champagne, we talked about the challenges and beauty of life and relationships (of all kinds). The idea about being in control of one’s life came up. I used to be all about the 3, 5, and 10-year plans, but as I get older, I’m more about the 6-month-possibilities. I have a good idea of where I’ll be in 6 months, but life happens. With every day, I’m embracing Gilda’s idea of “delicious ambiguity.”
Halloween with Students in China
The metaphor that came to me at lunch was the idea of life as a river. We each have a boat, and I believe we have a paddle to guide us, but the river is the river. It will be slower in certain parts. There might be a waterfall we didn’t see coming. We might get caught in an eddy or get stuck on a rock for a few days, but the river continues. We can’t control the river. We can only do our part. There might be people we invite to join our boat along the way, or maybe invite to travel alongside us. The river forks in certain places. Maybe a friend takes one route, and I take another, but we’re all on the same river.
I thank all of you for continuing to read and for sharing your stories, your dreams, and your fears. I believe the road to peace is through personal happiness and understanding of others. I believe that unconditional love heals worlds. As Ben Harper’s beautiful song says, “I Believe in a Better Way.”
Lol, sometimes I get caught in an Eddy. Nice post!
Hey your blog has almots 12k hits in less than a year. I’ve looked at some blogs that took 5 years to het 10k hits and one today that had only 3,000. AWESOME.
Thanks Andrea!!! I’m pretty excited!
Excellent post! I AGREE, we are all one… indeed. In my experience, when I feel alone, it is always nice to open up and find that I am by no means alone. 🙂 Congrats on one year and on being freshly pressed!
Hugs and Blessings,
Currie
Thanks so much, Currie! Really enjoyed your blog!
I like the river metahphor. But, ever the optimist, lol, I remember my mom always saying, “Well, you’re just up a creek without a paddle.” I guess I would just be sitting on your river..lol
I teach fourth grade and I always have Idiom Friday. I’m going to have to have the kids discuss and draw that one..lol
Good post!
Hi Jumping in Mud Puddles! That’s great! I would be interested to hear what the kids did with that idea. Please keep me posted. Also, when I first published this post, I realized I entitled “I Believe” “I Belive” oops! But, that’s kind of interesting…”I BE LIVE.”
And I guess I can’t spell either..*metaphor..lol
Lovely metaphor. Happy Birthday 6 Months to Live!
Thanks Elleswim!
Congratulations on your 1-year-anniversary and your feature on Freshly Pressed.
I like your metaphor, life as a river. If I compare my life to the analogy I’d say I’ve had many waterfalls and I’ve been stuck on some rocks for years at a time. But, I guess that’s what it took for me to wake up. There is good in all.
Now, I’m on the road to peace.
Thank you, Marianne! I’ve had many waterfalls too and definitely been stuck on some rocks. Haha. I also try to keep in mind the bends in the river and when we can’t see the future clearly, it might mean we’re at a bend in the river, which will open up and show us clearly our next steps. I agree. There is good in all (I just have to remind myself of that sometimes 😉 ).
Loved this post too. The second I’ve read of yours. Thanks for your blog. It’s great. Life is like a river. Guess we have to just keep row, row, row-ing our boats. 🙂
Exactly! Glad to hear you enjoy the blog, thedesertdreamer. The next time I get stuck on the river, I’ll remind myself to row AND to sing! 😉
Thats such a great description of life! Love it. They need to teach a class based on that kind of thought in school. Something to better prepare kids for life after school. Well maybe they should start in first grade come to think of it.
I agree! That would be awesome. Start the school! 😉