YOLO - You Only Live Once & Then You DIE...In Memory of Connie

I hate it.

I feel like I’m wasting my life.

There are so many things I want to do, but I don’t have the time or energy because of my job.

What if I only live once?

~Worker Living in Ohio

 

This is a plaque I made to remind myself to live each day fully…it’s a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh

This is the only life that we are SURE that we will have.

We are living it right now…our lives…we need to PRETEND like we will only live once.

Now, what will you do today if this is it…all there is…this life…right now?

P.S.

I few years ago I texted my friend Connie to make sure she was okay.  She wasn’t. She was dying. I remember talking to her friends and family who were at her bedside and they told me that she wasn’t expected to make it through the weekend.  

Death is real.  It is coming for each of us. Each and every day that we wake up and “pretend” all of the crap in our lives is important.   It’s not.  We know it’s not, but we keep on pretending. 

As I reminisce about my long-time friend Connie and how much she taught me by how she lived her life FULLY…FULL OUT…nothing stopped her…nothing…nothing…nothing. Honestly I don’t even know if her dying from cancer really STOPPED her because of the impact she made on my life and many other lives.  

We have all had Connie’s in our lives…teachers, mentors, big brother, big sister, showing us the way, giving us advice, asking about our progress, cheering us on, showing us the possibilities, being our true friends in this life…you know the type of people who you know you were destined to meet along your journey…those are the Connie’s… 

…So…Connie is gone and one day so will I and so will you. That is real. As real as life will ever get. 

So Live Fully…FULL OUT

P.P.S.

As my reminder at 2:14 p.m. EST on January 11, 2015 I got the call from Connie’s husband that she had died that morning. 

 

What Is The Point Of Faking Happiness When You Can "Be" Happy?

I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m not happy every day. I don’t enjoy going to work. I’m my happiest when I’m not at work.

I’m tired of being other people’s crutch to do whatever they want me to do. I need to be my own person.

What’s the point of faking happiness when there’s real happiness to be found and experienced? I need to be out of my comfort zone for once to kick myself in the *ss to do something for myself professionally.

~Worker Living in Canada

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Today, ask yourself if you can ever be happy in this job.  

Not, are you faking happiness and making others BELIEVE that you are happy; but are you really happy or could you be? 

If the answer is no; then you need to get out of your comfort zone and take some actions TODAY.

Lose and Find Yourself In The Things That You Love

I am miserable every day.

I hate going to work on Monday’s.

I hate that I never see my husband.

I hate my hours and I hate my customers.

~Worker Living in Pennsylvania

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Naming what we hate helps us determine what we love.

If you hate that you never see your spouse; then you know you need a job or opportunity that will allow you to be with them.

Don’t stop at just “hating”; balance it out with what you love.  Naming what you love will lead you to a lifestyle that includes what you love.

It's Time To Get Back To A Normal Life

The job is poisoning every aspect of my life and makes it impossible to live a normal life let alone look for another job.

~Worker Living in Canada

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

If  you feel like your job is poisoning every aspect of your life and you can’t live a normal life you will have to figure out EXACTLY what the poison pill is. 

Is it the job itself, your manager, the politics, the industry, the commute, the workload, or the hours? 

In order for you to get the poison out of your system you need to know EXACTLY what you are dealing with.  Once you have determined the poison then, you need to find a way to remedy it.

How do you get back to a normal life if things are out of whack?

See Things Differently...Look For The Possibilities...

I would like to have the chance to explore independent consultancy with more flexibility and a chance to work on more varied projects.

~Worker Living in Nigeria

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Today, is there any space and time for you to work on some other projects that interest you — even if they aren’t currently assigned to you? 

Can you take a project that you’re working on to the next level or in a different direction? 

If those opportunities aren’t there in this job, do you have enough energy during your time off to explore freelance opportunities – no matter how small they might be – just to give you some different types of projects to work on?

P.S.

Google Freelance Opportunities…at a minimum you need to have or develop the skills to be ABLE to work freelance gigs.

If You're Feeling Trapped In Your Job...Admit It & Live Differently This Year

I feel trapped in an endless cycle with no end.

~Worker Living in New York

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Today, ask yourself if you feel trapped in your job, at your organization, with your team, at the location you work, or working for your boss.

 It’s a yes or no answer –

DO YOU FEEL TRAPPED?   

P.S. (This is for all the people out there looking for a link, or a video, or ANOTHER inspirational quote.)

NOBODY is going to give you the answer to the above question.  Stop looking for other people to figure this out for you.  Stop beating yourself up about the situation you are in.  Stop lying to yourself about it. Just face it. Stare it down.  Look at it.  It is what it is.  Take a good long look at your work situation, because until you face it you’ll STAY stuck for ANOTHER year.

You CAN get un-stuck this year.  You MUST get un-stuck this year. Step-by-Step you can do this.  Yeah YOU can wake up and WANT to JUMP out of bed. Why NOT you?

P.P.S.

If you’ve read this far…put your hand over your heart…leave it there until you can feel your heart beating. (It might take a minute to tune in and feel the beating…you might even have to close your eyes to focus in.)

Now, this is your reminder that you are alive.  You are still alive.

STOP EXISTING & LIVE!!!

 

Work-Life Balance Starts Within...Make Sure What You Think, Say & Do Are In Harmony

I have no work life balance, however, I still don’t have time to do my work properly.

~Worker Living in Malta

Finding balance starts within.

Today, find balance within yourself.  

Ask for balance in both your inner and outer world. Ask for a sense of peace within.