Living our best lives...

My title today comes from a friend’s blog post. She talked about making time to write and asks the question, “…if we do not honor that which matters most can we truly say we are living our best lives?” There is so much honesty and depth in her brief postings. She has a gift for penetrating the soul of creativity and asking questions that stay with me all day long.

I, on the other hand, can ramble on forever and not find the answers. Am I living my best life? Maybe.  At least I think I’m getting closer. Teaching is very important to me and brings me joy. Yesterday one of my students asked me a burning question that had apparently been on his mind. “Mrs. Maurer, what do teachers DO when they are just watching kids?” I replied, “Thinking, W, I’m just thinking about a lot of things.”  Teaching provides me with the time and opportunities to think, observe, create, organize, and interact with others- all components of my best life.

However, in order to really live my best life I must also make time to write, be outside, feel strong, create beauty, and nourish my soul. We all get so busy that sometimes we are just doing things to pass the time. It is easy to get caught up in activities that serve no purpose and do not really matter.

I woke up in pain this morning, almost to the point of not being able to function. That doesn’t happen very often and I feel I am blessed to usually start off the day in good health and in a good mood. It has taken over an hour to finally feel that I will indeed be fine, but in the meantime I had a choice between simply sitting down and feeling sorry for myself, or going through a routine of actions that I knew would help me achieve my goal of finding relief and strength. Mornings like this make me realize that in order to continue to live my best life I must, MUST, continue to do all that I can to take care of my body. My best life will not be lived in pain.

I made the comment to my children last week that I was bored, so I went down the road and took a few photos of my neighbor’s cattle. I seldom use the term bored because I’m so busy trying to do everything on my “to do” list. Yet, there are times when having something to “do” isn’t enough. I am, contrary to the beliefs of my children, somewhat adventurous, and sometimes I just want to wander off the beaten path. I know that driving a short way down a dirt road isn’t much of a wander, but at least I didn’t stay here in front of the computer. J Perhaps this summer I will wander somewhere truly exciting.

My best life must include some beauty. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m so at home in the garden. It must include creativity; hence my enjoyment of art and photography.  And my best life must include animals. I was born to hear the birds sing and watch the bunnies nibble grass. During the years that I lived in the city I kept birds in cages and fish in tanks and plants in pots because I couldn’t function without them. You can take a woman out of the country, but you can’t take the country…well you know.

So today I leave you today with my own version of the question.

Are you living your best life?  

Comments

[Katrina]

Wait...did you just quote Oprah? You really must be trying to get into the mindset to visit me...

[Mom]

Oprah has been quoting me for years. It was time to return the favor.

[Megan]

I realize that I don't truly know what I'm missing until I take time to find it. I love to peek into the toy room when the kids are in there. Unobserved, I hear conversations and see ingenuity at work.

Or listening to my toddler breathe as we cuddle before he goes to sleep. Or seeing a lightbulb go on in my oldest's head. And pretty much any moment with my daughter is the best life.

Best life? Well, best minutes here and there. But EVERY DAY something fantastic.