Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Taking time to slow down...

“It’s about how you got there. Not what you’ve accomplished.” - Yvon Chouinard
One of my favorite quotes from a man who personifies the popular Latin phrase "Carpe Diem".  It's just a reminder that I should take time to enjoy life and have adventures on the path to my goals. Getting to the top of the mountain is just as much about the path you take as it is getting there.  As I reflect upon the things I have done, there's not much there.  Nothing big at least, no crazy adventures, no intriguing stories amassed.  With the invention of facebook, followed the tradition of facebook stalking.  And facebook stalking can be hazardous to the health of your psyche. I know I've gotten insanely jealous of the adventures my pseudo-friends have had and posted about.  The random vacations, hook-ups, parties, etc that I've always imagined as 'living the life'.  It depresses me to the point I rage at how mundane my life seems compared to them.  Why don't I get to go to Vegas/Europe/the beach? How come my 'friends' don't invite me to participate?  So then I try to make plans and swear to have an adventure sometime soon.  But it doesn't happen, and continues to not happen.  Not the way I imagined at least...

The thing is...I've had my own adventures. They aren't quite as ludicrous as some of the adventures I have observed via facebook stalking, but you know what?  They're my adventures. One of the things I've recently vowed to do is to believe and think in a positive manner.  No more saying "I hate it when...", no more thinking "My life is so boring"...none of that.

So what adventures have I had?  Getting married...that's an ongoing adventure.  Though I may complain and whine about certain things, I know the past 2 years have been fantastic.  The whole process of buying a house and actually buying a house...from which I've learned immeasurable amounts of things.  Getting a puppy.  Oh, I could write a whole separate blog about puppy adventures...

My path to the top might not be as spectacular as most people, but in some places I'm leagues ahead and still thrilled about what's yet to come.


The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost