This Miserable or Magical Life?

Romantic I am. At least I think so. Maybe my exes would not agree.

"Romanticizer" of life - not guilty on that score.

Wine me, dine me, make coffee for me and, best of all, have intelligent, witty, thought-provoking conversations with me and you will have me eating out of your hands. Well, metaphorically. You will at least have my keen interest.

Tell me that all that glitters might very well be gold, that there is milk and honey paving the streets or that my knight in shining armour will come one day soon if I keep hopeful and you will lose me.

Somewhere smack dab in the middle is where you will find me. In my books, life is experienced on a spectrum and whether it is misery or magical, mundane or miraculous is totally dependent on perspective. Your own.

Magic or if you prefer, miracles happen every day, everywhere and for everyone. The same is true of misery or mundane experiences. Some believe that those living in North America have a magical life. Others believe that those in Africa or other parts of the developing world (hate that label) are in misery.

Having lived in both "worlds," I know that both opinions are not only generalizations but incorrect, ignorant and uninformed.

Tell the person sitting in a prison cell in Canada, as I have attempted to do, that life is good and you might get more than a colourful earful. Hungry, feeling bereft of opportunities to make a decent living and marginalized for many different reasons, some resort to crime as the only viable option. They too wanted the magical life that they heard exists in North America.

Then there are those who seemingly have it all but cannot stop to enjoy it as they are in constant motion to get more. This is very similar to those in their country or in other parts of the world who have much less than they do but are in the same motion to acquire.

Observing this, it left me with the question, "Who or what determines quality of life?" The multi-Me have come up with an equal amount of responses:

1. The romantic in me responds that quality of life is measured by the relationship one is in and whether you are happy within it. 
2. The practical, rational me says that quality of life is higher when you own a house, enough cars to serve the household, an income to satisfy all your needs, at least six months savings in the bank and after all that still have disposable income to spend however you want.

The me who has walked part way along both the roads of poverty and the one leading to high income responds, Neither of the above by themselves." Quality of life is about having a great relationship, in fact great relationships of all types and, money to lead and afford the kind of life you desire.

Quality of life is determined by the only person qualified to do so. You.

What I have come to learn, after many years of jumping through hoops, chasing stuff, burning bridges and broken hearts, is that it matters not where a person lives for him/her to experience their "best life."

It is where the heart is.

Today, Day 103 of the year 2015, my quality of life is rich and expanding! Single, with several very close friends who are family and some family members who are dear friends, enough money to meet my few needs and even fewer wants and a growing savings balance - I am happy, well and full of joy!

What about you? Where are you experiencing life in our world and what is the quality of it in your view? Write to me if you need some of my "methods" in life quality management. If you are where you want to be, share some tips with the rest of us here or on my coaching page!

Have a great week and a Magical Monday!

Namaste.

It Is Indeed A Beautiful Life

A few people, maybe quite a few, who I know are unhappy with their lives. Some are extremely unhappy, disappointed and at breaking point.

Looking at the details of some of their circumstances, it would be challenging not to acknowledge that the circumstances are less than ideal.

With the mortgage or rent overdue, car payments persistently late, children school fees astronomically high and cell phone bill through the roof, one cannot but admit that they are struggling.

Does that however means that life is ugly?

Late last night while I was still at work trying to reconcile an account - something that is not my favourite thing to do but I am covering (again) for a colleague - the night cleaning crew came in. One of the ladies told me that it is her 65th birthday next year and she will be retiring after being with our organization for 40 years. "Time to enjoy life," she said as she passed her broom under my desk or my "house" as she likes to call it.

It is not my habit to compare my journey with anyone else's but as she said that I made two comparisons. First, it would be the death of me were I to spend 40 years working before I could enjoy my life. Nope, not doing it. 

I would rather have low paying, seasonal work for the rest of my days, positions that allowed me to have enough money to travel inexpensively by any means to meet and greet life in all its manifestations.

The second thing that came to me and I shared it with her, was her use of the word "house." When I worked in the penal system here in Canada, some long term inmates called their cells "my house." I always smiled when I heard it and invariably reflected on the one that I would be driving to after work. There was no physical comparison between the two - what with all the fandangles in mine and the pictures stuck to the walls with tape in theirs.

Yet, while most would exchange places with me any second, at the time many of them were intrinsically more happy that I was. You see, the janitor now and me back then, with all we have, we are/were on pause. The intimates were making the most of what they had.

Beauty is all around us. It simply requires our attention to it.

Sharing on my page earlier this morning, I mentioned that: "Life can be stressful or sweet...it all depends on your view, your attitude and how you choose to respond. Take mine in the last 12 hours. My daughter and I had a "moment" - a tense one. We both went to our respective beds a bit annoyed at each other.

This morning I got up intent on making the day sweet. What happened? We've idled away the last couple hours, playing with the baby and playing dress up in high heel shoes that I simply cannot wear!

Your choice, your life! Damned or Diamond."

It really is our individual choice to make a beautiful life for ourselves. What I know without a single doubt is that nothing much is required but our heart and eyes. My life has changed materially, from plenty to just enough. With that movement has come clarity of vision, pureness of heart and a resolve to never again be ungrateful.

Life is beautiful as you and I believe it to be. Dare to believe right now, wherever you are and with whatever you possess.

Have a beautifully blessed day!