Tags
finding perspective, life lessons, living your best life, relationships, truth, weekends, writing
Once a month I leave my apartment for a weekend to gain perspective. I find myself a cute getaway within 100 or so miles that brings me joy and a new landscape.
The ultimate goal is to escape into a world complete only with reading, writing and relaxing — but to be honest, these first few months have been more about just finding the ground beneath me. Maybe towards the end of 2018 I’ll achieve the intention that I set when I put this into my yearly resolutions. But maybe not. And that will be okay too.
This weekend, I found myself thinking about perspective. How our thoughts unfold the world before us. How sometimes we’re so envious of other people’s lives, only to learn that it’s just as hard as ours — and just as good as ours — just different. And how a simple comment, message or check in with a friend or mentor can reframe everything.
Over the last few weeks the world has reminded me of Albert Einstein’s Theory of Happiness that he wrote in 1922.
“A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness”.
I believe this with every fabric of my being …. Yet I still relentlessly pursue.
I relentlessly pursue the art of giving back. I find so much joy in helping make connections between two people. And the joy only builds when I learn that both received something beneficial from the simple act of an introduction.
I relentlessly pursue feeling connected. My road ahead is shorter every day and I feel an urgent desire to make each day count with people that are good for my soul.
I relentlessly pursue being full. Because being still is really, really hard. And busy makes me happy.
What I don’t relentless pursue is money, which is odd because I need that to live.
But last week my coach (whom I recommend to everyone interested in growing as a leader) gave me some perfectly placed advice. She said that I can make money AND make connections and give back. It’s not an “or” — it’s an “and”. And I just loved that.
We don’t have to leave our normal day to day to gain perspective. But we do need to pursue it.
If you’re reading this, send someone a random text or place an out-of-the-blue phone call. Make someone’s day because it’s good for everyone’s soul.

Photo courtesy of my friend Asa, who is always good for my soul.
with special thanks to those that recently brought me perspective on my journey — and are just good for my soul — Karen, Jen, Rebecca, Sarah, Kas, Asa, FF and always my family.