I am a goal-oriented person.
I’m constantly working towards something.
A garage sale. A trip. A move. A deadline. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the journey as much as the destination, but I enjoy a journey with direction so much more than aimless wandering.
But I think real happiness – real peace – is found in the living we do in between the precisely-named events.
It’s there that we solidify the truths and relationships that aren’t dependent on external influences of place and time. It’s there that we learn to just be, whatever that means for each of us.
I’ve finished a lot of big projects over the last couple of weeks and we have a full two months before we hit the road on June 1st. There are still a handful of preparations that need to be made, and I have work and trips scheduled between now and then. But I have more days than deadlines ahead of me.
I don’t want to spend them feeling restless.
I don’t want to wish them away, counting down towards the next Big Event.
I want to spend the next two months being happy. But mostly, I want to spend them remembering what it is to just be.
What does “just being” mean to you?
To me, it means living in the moment and appreciating what I have now. It’s not always the easiest thing to do, especially when I get the itch to wander. Having something to look forward to helps – you get to experience that delicious buildup, the anticipation of what’s coming next.
I remember as a kid that sometimes the only thing that helped me get through some truly shitty times on the various jobs was the knowledge that “this is not my life.” Perhaps as an adult you can revel in what you love about your current life so you can take that with you in your new one.
Living in the moment. Exactly. I tend to be very good at that when the moment is exciting.
i’m incapable of doing this unless i’m traveling. probably not a good thing either…i’m always working on something or toward something.
Me too. I think that’s part of the reason I wanted to travel full time, to extend that feeling – which, uh, may not be so realistic now that I think of it.
ABORT MISSION!
Those moments are when I plan for the future future. The one that may never happen. I doodle house designs and garden layouts. I look up different breeds of cow and try to figure out how many I might need, and whether or not 5 acres would be enough, or if I should just go for 10. I wonder if it would be fun to get chickens that lay blue and green eggs just for the heck of it.
I work on layouts for my daughter’s website-to-be. I doodle. I braid hemp jewelry. I do things that are easy to put aside for when my son wants a story. I write a few lines of poetry. I take pictures.
Mostly I read and daydream and enjoy being able to breathe.
Awwwww, that sounds lovely!
I’m not very good at daydreaming. I get frustrated with big plans that don’t have concrete steps. The “what if you won the lottery game” makes me downright angry!
Life happens in the little things. Things like dinner time, car rides to Target, and coloring on the floor.
So true. Especially car rides to Target. And morning routines.
Gosh, it’s been a long time since I’ve even been able to “just be.” Life is so hectic, and so crazy, with so much going on – always a ball in the air, or three.
I like to think that when I have time to “just be” I’ll spend my extra time learning… whether that’s a new hobby, or knowledge from a book, or even just learning how to relax. That’s a goal in and unto itself – learning. The pursuit of knowledge, wisdom.
Just being means to me that I enjoy things as they happen. I am very vocal in my I don’t care what people
think statements. And I don’t. I like being silly and mad and odd and whatever and I won’t
be like that if I worry about people. I like to enjoy my moment and Just Be
I admire people who can do that so effortlessly!
I don’t really know how to “just be” but I’m slowly figuring it out.
Living in the moment though? I can totally do that when I’m not riding the Crazy Train.
I’m with you – can live in the moment, but “just be” is something different and more difficult for me.
A friend recently retired after 20 years of service to the Marine Corps. In her speech she fondly recalled the day she joined the Corps and yes, it was significant. Almost as significant as the day she retired. But of more significance, she said, was the 20 years in between.
She got it right.
Getting ready for events usually stresses me out, so my happy time is the day-to-day living of life, the just being times. I find happiness in doing the things I like to do – taking pictures and being creative and hanging out with my family and friends. I love trips and events and look forward to them as a nice break, but I love them when they’re spaced far enough apart that most of my life is the peaceful easy business of being human. Probably because I’m one step away from being a card-carrying hermit.
You’re the yin to my yang.
I can’t just be. I woke up from a coma and wrote a to do list. Seriously. I am trying really har to cherish the small moments.
I could totally see myself doing that!
“just being” is a HUGE struggle for me … but I’m working on it.
For me? Just Being means ::
~turning off the computer (literally OFF, which can be so painful sometimes! Pathetic to actually type that out loud!)
~ actually listening to my littles when they ask me a question
~ sitting for 5 minutes with headphones on while waiting to pick up my kids, instead of gabbing with other moms at school
~ not turning on the tv before bed and simply sitting there, collecting my thoughts aimlessly, rehashing the good in the day I’ve just finished.
I’m learning to love finding the small moments in the course of a day!
Comments like this make me think you and I are very, very much alike.
And you inspired my next post, I think!
Your next post is going to be about how much we are alike?
It’s interesting … everyone seems to think that “just be” looks something like sitting still, in the quiet, in the dark, with no noise?
Can we “just be” while we’re in the middle of our chaos? Is it more about being true to ourselves … true to our priorities and goals … and just “be-ing” in that?
Like – I’m crazy busy all of the time doing a ZILLION things … that all 100% rock my world. So it is possible that just in choosing THOSE things that mean alot to me, I am JUST BEING? Or do I owe it to myself to make the definition of “just being” actually TO reduce my clutter, my static and hang out with myself more often?
Hmm — now my brain’s a tickin’
LOL, I about freaked out all “WHY CAN’T I COMMENT???” but didn’t when I realized the format changed from the last time I commented. Anyway… your posts make me wish mine were deeper and more meaningful.
LOVE YOU! AND JARED!
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i am so not a goal oriented person. i’ve tried to be, but it just doesn’t work. i love the here and now, the adventure of what is just around the corner, yet i don’t plan for the future and work towards goals. basically i just hang on to the ride of life. i do so enjoy it!