What are you waiting for?

There is an idea that up until now has kept me moving forward toward goals and ultimately, happiness. There are legitimate reasons that explain the recent misery I’ve experienced. This idea rings through my head everyday and most days I have listened but lately I realized that I’ve been ignoring it.

If I die tomorrow, will I be happy with my place in the world today? Will I have made an impact on anyone? Will anyone remember me? I know that I have no control over when I die, because I choose to not take “that” control. I conceded many years ago that the time limit on my life will not be determined by me but by the chance of living and seeing how long I can fool death. But I do also realize that anything can happen at any time to anyone. This is why I make the decisions I do, up until recently at least.

Misery comes when you decide to ignore this idea and live life according to someone else’s ideas or goals. Why is this? No one can define your happiness but you. I know I know it’s a very selfish idea. But think about it in a realistic way. If the person/people that surround you and define your happiness right now were to part ways say, tomorrow would you continue doing the same things and living the same life? If you are not happy with yourself and/or your life, how do you expect to be happy with or for anyone else? Which, to my thinking, means that the opposite is true. If you live wholly and truthfully to your ideas and goals then happiness is inevitable.

Now, I’m not saying that you should follow your dreams at the expense of others’. But at the same time don’t let others make you feel guilty for following your dreams. Take responsibility for your actions but also hold others to their inactions. Usually if someone else is projecting their insecurities onto you and trying to inflict guilt its because they are not doing what they want in their own life. On the other hand, I’m willing to help others achieve their goals and find happiness but not at the expense of my own dreams and happiness. You should never have to shelve your dreams and desires because of someone else. If you choose to, that’s a different story.

Life is all about choices, including happiness. What most people don’t understand is that every single decision we make in life leads to the outcome. And most people make these decisions obliviously and then wonder 30 years down the road why they’re unhappy. Pay attention to your surroundings, be blatantly aware of how your choices affect your life and those around you, and most of all choose wisely those you spend your time with they will affect you more than you know.

Surround yourself with people that reflect that which you desire, live your life by your rules, and find a dream and never give up on it. What would you do with your last day on this earth? It might be today, what are you waiting for? On the day that I die I want to be able to look at my life and say, “I’m happy with the choices I made that led me here.” No matter how crazy or ridiculous others may say they are, follow your dreams to the ends of the earth and then go just a bit farther.