“I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.”
~Rita Mae Brown

Life is too short not to enjoy it. That makes sense, but it can be difficult to remember. Especially when we have a long to-do list, or someone is annoying us, or things are not working out the way we think they should.

I watch my clients get caught up in all the things that are going wrong, or the annoying person on their team that they need to set straight, or the challenge with their boss (or colleague) that is ruining everything – and they’re right. It’s understandable that these things get under their skin and that they want to set things right. But we can’t always do that, and when we spend our time and energy focusing on what’s wrong, we miss the opportunity to notice what’s right. To enjoy the moment we’re in. To enjoy being alive.

I watch myself ruminating over a real or imagined slight, or feeling upset at a conversation going wrong, or letting the little annoyances of life get to me – and I’m right. It’s understandable that these things upset me and that I want to smooth out the relationship and fix the annoyances. But again, I can’t always do that, and when I choose to focus on what’s bothering me I lose the chance to enjoy what’s right.

There is a time and place for fixing what needs to be fixed and righting what needs to be righted. And there is a time and place for simply enjoying life. For realizing, and embracing, that that is the only reason to be alive.

Oh the joy of not taking too long to realize this.

How do you enjoy being alive?
Please leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this post, you can read more like it in our book, The Power of Thoughtful Leadership: 101 Minutes To Being the Leader You Want To Be, available on Amazon.


For support in enjoying yourself even more, contact Lisa at lkohn@chatsworthconsulting.com.

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