How to cherish life

Slow down + truly live

Jul 09, 2023

Here we go! Another new week!

Before I dive into this week’s LIFT, I’d love to check in with those of you who are joining me for Plastic Free July. Leave a comment + let me know how your first week went.

Welcome to The LIFT

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DARK NIGHTS

As I mentioned, my week started with a movie night. It was outdoors on a rooftop at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego. It was a magical night - outside, full moon, good friends. Doesn’t get much better.

The film was The Great Gatsby (2013). The last time I saw it was 10 years ago + I had forgotten quite a bit of the story. Yes, I read the book in high school or middle school, but I can barely remember 10 years ago, let alone 40. LOL.

It’s a fun film, but definitely a tragic story. Jay Gatsby spends his entire life pursuing wealth + influence to win over the love of his life, only to end up very alone in the end.

The next day, I was with my daughter celebrating the 4th of July when she received word about a co-worker + friend (Hayden, 24) who had gone missing while hiking with friends in Yosemite a few days earlier.

To date, Hayden is still missing. I can only imagine the heartbreak for his family + friends. I’m sharing their GoFundMe page here - in case you feel compelled to help in their search efforts. Every bit helps.

Both of these events set me up this week for a bit of reflection. Remembering that life is fleeting + whatever you are pursuing, there is nothing more precious than this very moment.

So, I thought I’d just give you a little reminder of that, too.

Whether you had a carefree week or a heavy one, one of the best ways to start a new week is to appreciate the one you just had.

For ALL it was.

The good.

The bad.

There is beauty in ALL of it.

I think that is what beauty is. Impermanence. It’s what brings value to everything.

Life is constantly changing + nothing is guaranteed.

No moment can ever be repeated.

So, savor each one.

Even the ones you don’t like.

I saw this piece by Andrew Anabi of Pool House New York + had to share it with you:

How to Cherish Life
Like most people, you are probably waiting for something to happen. Maybe you are waiting to fall in love. Maybe you are waiting for your career to take off. But this is the problem. You are eager to get some place other than where you are. You want to be somewhere in the distance - where the grass is greener. However, the grass is never greener, but it does fade. It fades and becomes something else. Because life is constantly changing.
When life does change, you will probably miss the way it was. You may miss those long morning drives or walks to the office, or those hectic family gatherings. You may miss them because those moments are finite - you will ony travel those streets and see those people a certain amount of times.
Every time you do something that is one less time you do it. One day you will do something the final time and you will rarely know when that day comes.
For all of you know, today might be the last time you walk in a particular neighborhood. Or it might be the last time you smile at a particular someone. To think otherwise, would be foolish. Nothing is guaranteed, except this moment. Your only ‘real’ choice is to cherish every exchange like it is your last - because it very well might be.
Therefore, the best way to cherish life is to remind yourself of life’s impermanence. It is to remember that every time you see someone that is one less time you see them. It is to remember that every time you go somewhere that is one less time you visit. By doing this, you naturally slow down. Almost like a reflex, you start to truly live.

I think the older we get, the better we are at cherishing life. You can’t help but appreciate it more when you feel the end is closer. But, even so, we all get caught up in the rush of life + our endless pursuits + countless demands. Sometimes we forget just how precious it all is.

This week, let’s LIVE. Cherish life. Cherish those around you.

Give yourself a moment to want what is. Just for a moment. This moment.

YOUR MISSION:

Take a moment today to cherish something or someone. Allow yourself to fully appreciate + want something that you already have. Recognize the beauty of it right here, right now. Then, let it go.

IN SUMMARY:

After you have a moment to cherish something, I hope you will join me in cherishing the planet + your health by recommitting to Plastic Free July. We’ve got three weeks left to practice cutting back on single-use plastic. I’d love to hear about your successes + failures along the way. What’s been the hardest thing so far?

The LIFT