For a prompt that was given at a recent writers group meeting I attended we were asked to reflect on “The Good Life’ and what that looks like for us as individuals.
I don’t think that I have really ever spent much time thinking about this saying for myself. So, it caused me to actually do a lot of reflecting.
When I think of ‘the good life’ in general, I often think anyone that basically lives perfectly, without any issues or concerns! Money is flowing, everyone is healthy, great success, and very happy people. But when I started to think of who I know personally that actually is living ‘the good life’ not many people came to mind.
As humans, who has everything aligned completely perfect at all times? How often do any of us go without something rising up in our life that has to be dealt with? Maybe it’s a dental appointment for a toothache, some type of home repair, taking a pet to the vet to see what they need, getting an unexpected bill that wasn’t budgeted for, someone is hospitalized, and the list goes on.
In my self-reflection I went back more to that cliche of ‘life is what you make it,’ so I guess if anyone wants the ‘good’ life…it’s a matter of making it good despite all the things that surround us.
When life surrounds me with great things and people who love me…I can feel good no matter what is happening in this world. But when I feel surrounded with difficulty, or all alone in my circumstance…it’s then that I pray to the God I believe in and try to feel his peace surround me – if I allow it to. That is my choice.
I may not have everything I want in this life, but I can stop to appreciate the things I do have.
A place to live, shelter, food, clothing, family, friends, fans/Ac, heat in the winter, and so forth. Other things I can appreciate looking at…like the trees, the green grass, the water flowing in the park, stores I love to shop at, great coffee, nature, etc.
We all most likely have unaccomplished goals, but we can feel good about our lives before we attain all of our goals if we keep our focus on what we learn to appreciate.
Even the most handsome or pretty person in the world – has issues that will reveal themself if you spend any amount of time with them. I have found that I can have a great makeup day, but a bad hair day. I can be running late and still enjoy my commute to where I am going. I may need to get in better shape and can feel down about what numbers I may read on the scale…but can get excited about finding a better health & exercise plan. I may not be able to afford the 80 books on my wish list but can enjoy the 758 books I have at home. (You get my point)
The good life is taking a better perspective. Perhaps being content where you are at…and finding patience in the midst of waiting for things to happen or go another way. Contentment isn’t perfect…but the state of ease in the middle of feeling overtaken by things beyond our control.
If would be great if we all started moving away from mindsets that prevent us from feeling good about our lives.
As a Christian I do see that God has been good to me, but I may not always feel it or see it that way. I may even wonder why things happen. I need to allow myself to see it from the right point of view.
Our dogs recently mated and ended up with a liter of unexpected puppies. Two of the pups ended up staying with us. The dad wasn’t that happy with this, but he is adjusting. What is funny is in the midst of the extreme heat we’ve dealt with this summer I caught him laying about 2 feet away from one of the pups…both in front of the huge turbo fan we have blowing in the hallway. This spoke to me on how even in the midst of him not loving this new reality…he still was able to find contentment in front of that fan. Maybe he realizes his little cute corgi boy isn’t so bad after all.
The good life just might be our state of mind on the day to day, with not everything going our way, but remembering one thing every night that went right that day. The good life might not present to us continual flourishing moments but thriving in the midst of our hardships.
Maybe if we think about our lives and what is good, we can see our life as a good life. When we focus on what is meaningful to us and the loving relationships we are blessed to have. The good life we have is a life worth living, that each of us have a purpose to be here, that we all make a difference each day if we choose to. Maybe the world is full of frowns as people pass us by, but we can be that smile with a hello to make it a better place. In a world of bad things and mean people – we all can be one of the good ones that make it a ‘better’ or more good life for others!