Life is fun when you look forward to it:

I had lunch with my friend Pam last week and we sat beside 4 seniors who were celebrating one of their 90th birthdays.  So the birthday boy, says to me just after they sat down and we introduced ourselves, "I'll bet you are a scream in the sack" to which I responded by buying him a birthday beer. I giggled all day.

What do you love to do outside of this thing we call a job?

In my research,  I have found that most of us do our "jobs" pretty well, we are OK at being accountable for the work we commit to.  But most of us do our life outside of work, pretty crappy! We are not accountable at all to our lives outside of work. Only a small percentage (less than 5%) of us are accountable for our lives outside of the day to day that we commit to, so it's no wonder why we wake up at 35, 45, 55 and sometimes 65years of age and ask: "Where did my life go? Why am I not doing what I really want to do?  This job is getting in the way of my LIFE!"  But where do we start, how do we change this?  It's not as easy as it sounds, but hopefully I will give you some nudging to get you started and remember; it's all about just getting started.  Let the momentum carry you through the next transition.  Get a pen and paper and write down as many things as you can in about 5 minutes to this question.

1. "If you were given 2 extra hours in a day, not if you could find those hours, they are a gift, what would you do with that time?" (Note: you cannot put down anything work related).

Here are some suggestions to probe your mind.

Read more, sleep more, eat more, shop more, workout more, get outside more, play with your kids more, golf more, do your sport more, write more, play your music more, travel more, visit with a friend more, be of service to others,  plan a dinner party, dilly dally around your house more, fool around more (and if that's what you choose, you have to figure out what you'll do with the other hour and 55 minutes.  :o) I suggest sleep more!

2.  Next thought: "If you have not done some of your mores, in the last six weeks, it's time!  Most of us will put in between 25-40 years on the job and it's the things we love to do outside of work that gives us new energy and passion to come to work and serve our families. 
 
There is a huge workforce out there who is subconsciously resentful towards their jobs because the job is (in their minds) not allowing them to do the things they love to do.  Ironically most people don't have a clear picture on what they want to do with their lives outside of work.-
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Now a snapshot of our family lives:-
Do you ever catch yourself saying, "Why am I doing all this stuff?"  Is it out of guilt (for the crazy hours we spend at and on our work) that we want to make sure our kids don't miss out on ANYTHING?-

It's one of the most common questions working adults are asking in our hustle bustle lives.  I recently spoke with a Dad at my Rotary meeting.  He indicated to me that last year he attended 372 sporting events.  Events his 3 teenage children played in.  He clocked over 80,000 miles on his SUV.  Now I don't know about you, but HELLO!!!!-

Are we so freaked out as parents that we feel the need to book activities 7days a -week, 52 weeks of the year.  So I will ask the question again, "Why are we doing all this stuff".  What is it YOU love to do outside of work and your family obligations?  What hobbies, activities, crafts, service to others, nothingness kinds of things actually bring you joy?  Remember that word, joy.  What honestly brings you JOY? Sit with that one for a minute or ten.-
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Send a note to Linda with what brings you joy, she'll add them to her next article.

info@lindaedgecombe.com
www.lindaedgecombe.com
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