I’m sitting here on a plane ride back from Seattle where I spent the day thinking about who I am and why I was born, facilitated by my wonderful friends at www.designduoinc.com and www.brillianceenterprises.com.
I just finished the movie Lost In Translation and I was awe struck by the artistry and tasteful story telling.
Today I was groovin’ to tunes by James Morrison, Kiss, Rascal Flats and even a couple of my own tunes by Vertigo Deluxe. Several times I was moved, elated, bouncing and feeling so happy being right here, right now.
In the last month I read all four Twilight books and I was so blown away by how it made me feel.
I’m sitting here thinking. Where have I been? What have I been doing? What have I been waiting for?
When was I going to start appreciating art, beauty and artistry again? After I achieved what? What does achieving have to do with appreciation?
I remember being a teenager and I was moved, touched, inspired, sparked, enraged and validated by song, art, film and theater. I would get enraptured by sporting events rooting for the underdog!!
Where did that go? I’ve been so busy creating a life that someday I can enjoy, I’ve completely ignored my natural appreciation. Why has my hunt for success, fortune and fame been so all consuming?
Today I just got present to how The Drunk Monkey has owned me for the last 20 years as I chased the elusive destination called success. Now I’m here and I can’t believe I wasted so much time on it.
I didn’t need to live in a multi-million dollar house, burn through luxury cars or have 20 pairs of pimp shoes. I could have been appreciating, digging, grooving, dancing, singing, cheering on the underdog, and moved to tears the entire time. No stuff is required to feel and experience.
As I wipe the tears from my eyes, I realize that I’m happy that I went for the elusive prize for you.
I’m grateful that my heartache can be a marker, a beacon for you. So I can share with you my journey and tell you its not worth obsessing over the destination called success. No matter how much I achieve I still haven’t proved to the elusive “them” that I’m good enough or a part of the group or worthwhile or even of value.
The rules I was taught don’t apply. The promises that I was sold on didn’t get fulfilled. So I am going out on my own and making up my own rules.
Live now! Appreciate now! Listen to more music, roll on the ground with your kids, forgive your parents, smell the roses, stare at sunsets.
I know it sounds like sappy self help bulls*** but no matter how much stuff you have it doesn’t change your ability to appreciate. And achieving success will not change your experience and appreciation.
I dare you to stop and appreciate everything you come across today and see what happens.
2 Comments
This is exactly why I recently concluded the following: “I don’t want to be the woman who has it all. I want to be the woman who has fun”.
You know what people admire more than people who are successful? People who look like they are joyfully happy and having the time of their lives.
So if you really want to impress people, that’s the way to do it.
But right now, I’m having too much fun to even bother with “impressing anyone”.
Thanks Matt… great post.
Can passion for life prevent one from becoming over the top successful?
Discipline that’s required to succeed can take away an immediate reward in order to create much larger reward down the road. We sacrifice something now in order to expand ourselves, our value, and ultimately our experience.
At the end, it’s all about the experience! When we forget to appreciate and enjoy the journey itself, the life begins to pass by…
My illusion is that you Matthew have been expanding yourself with no limits, wasting no time! At the same time, you have inspired, moved, validated, sparked and simply lit up so many souls around you. Thank you for that.