Today I had to wonder, am I living in a way that resonates with my values?
Why did I ask this? It is because during the daily experience of living life, you have to question yourself about why you are doing what you do. Why make the effort?
I know that I make the effort because I have taken advantages of opportunities that were there. Why where those opportunities there? I looked for them on LinkedIn and other networks, and I had a vision of where I wanted to be in my life.
When I was younger I imaged myself doing many things. A religious figure, chef, artist, teacher, reporter, manual laborer. I thought about the pros/cons and what I could do. Then it turned out that using my computer skills unraveled my future.
This isn’t to brag. Rather to say that we all have skills and talents that we bring to the table. How we express them is just as much a matter of choice, as opportunity. I know that I could have been happy in those other occupations because I naturally am disposed to being happy.
Again this isn’t to brag. I have noticed that some people seem to only want to accept life for its negative side. They look for what they lack, or what they aren’t. Rather than accepting and growing into what they could be. I am still growing and feel that looking at life in a helpful and positive way is easier than being negative.
Yet everyday we see negative people in the world. People who let their emotions, jealously and the petty parts of themselves make their decisions. Happiness only comes from being free to make decisions, even when they are hard and you don’t want to do it.
For example, in the past I could have had relationships that would have brought me short-term comfort. I didn’t have those relationships, so that I could move to a metro area where I would have more job opportunities and ways to grow and develop. Yes perhaps I missed the love of my life, but what use is having the love of your life, if the rest of your life is going to be unhappy in what you could have been?
I am not saying that your career is more important than love. I am saying that each person has to decide what they want and value, and as a society we have to give them the freedom to do it.
If we only allow freedom to white, straight and christian people, we have gone backwards. We need to give freedom to all who don’t hurt their fellow humankind. If people follow just and reasonable laws, we can all find the happiness we want. Isn’t this the point to life? To live and have a chance to love?