The path we take in life is just that, it’s a path. Where that path goes is completely up to us. We make the choices and decisions which will guide our life in a certain direction.
In fact where we are today is a result of all the decisions and choices we have made up to this time. Look at every aspect of your life and think about how it came to be the way it is. Somewhere along the line you chose that to be a part of your life.
If you’re not sure then think about these questions…
If you had a chance to live with anyone you wanted, and you had no prior history of living with anyone, who would it be? Would it be the person or people you currently live with? If not, why not? What would you choose differently starting tomorrow?
I think of my grandparents’ generation and the fact that they were expected to stay married for ever through hell or high water. What if you made a poor decision in marrying the person you did. You were committed for ever to that poor decision and felt unable to make a good decision to leave the situation for something better. It very restricting and stressful when you feel you cannot undo a decision, or at least make one for whatever obligation.
Where would you live? Would you live in the town or city you currently live in? Would you live in the country, on an acreage, on an island? Would you live in a bigger city like London, Paris or New York? Would you live in a warmer climate, or a colder climate? Hawaii, southern France, Tuscany, northern Australia, Sweden?
I know that I wouldn’t live in Calgary. Having lived in Australia, UK, Germany and Canada, I can say that my living conditions here are very good, and opportunities have been afforded to me that may not have come about had I lived elsewhere. I love being a part of the booming Calgary and Alberta economy. But the weather is cold, too cold for a Australian used to plus forty in Summer and highs around ten to fifteen degrees in Winter. I would choose a warmer climate. The Mediterranean looks good to me, perhaps also Hawaii or a smaller centre in Australia. But for me there’s a time and a place for everything. Right now, my place is Calgary, and I’m happy to live here, though if I had to pick a place to live permanently, this would not be my number one choice.
If you could work at anything and it would pay you enough that you could live comfortably, whether that’s the same as you get now, or more if required, what would you do? What work would choose? What dream job would you love to work at and have the ideal situation of getting paid to do it?
I remember seeing an interview with Greg Norman, the “Great White Shark”, legendary Australian golfer, winner of two British Opens and former World No 1 golfer. At the time when he was at the top of his golfing prowess, he said that he felt he had to be one of the luckiest people in the world, because he loved playing golf and he was paid millions to do it.
Other questions to ask would be, would you like to have more children or less children, be fitter or healthier, travel more or be more stable, have more or different hobbies or interests, different friends, more excitement or less excitement?
Every aspect in our life is a result of the choices we make and have made.
One final question to ponder. If you could choose your personality, how would it be? Would you be more energetic, more outgoing or quieter, a better listener or a better talker, more friendly or more or less anything?
As you think about that remember that every morning when you wake up, you choose your personality. You choose how you will be that day. You choose it if will be a good day or a bad day.
In my book, every day is a good day to be alive.
