“Life wastes itself while we are preparing to live.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Musings: Life in Two Parts… We are never alone but we must focus on the present
Do you have a To Do List that gets updated frequently with things you haven’t gotten around to doing? You are not alone. Many of us create these lists because we believe that, if and when we get to them, we will be able to get our lives in order and accomplish all the things we imagined possible. Like the ubiquitous New Year’s resolution, we create them with good intentions but then, life happens. Before we know it, our list of goals are derailed and we are back to square one; wondering how on earth we blew it. Truth is, we imagine our ego, the universe, our friends and family will hold it against us, but no one will. It’s our life and we might as well just get on with it.
The #Trust30 prompt today got me thinking about the things I put off/postpone: If you had one week left to live, would you still be doing what you’re doing now? In what areas of your life are you preparing to live? I’ve been working on a project for half the year and when I skip a beat because I’ve let something else consume my time, I justify it. While it is not a project about preparing to live, slacking/putting things off reminds me of what we put off for another day; the call to a friend, the email to a loved one, the birthday cards we plan to distribute, the gifts gathering dust because… something else came up. I believe that as we become more mindful of our lives and our interactions with others, we become more conversant with what is really a waste of time and what truly needs our time… Sure, it is a process and with effort it becomes easier. What are you doing mindfully?
“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” Aldous Huxley
Musings: Life in Two Parts… NM Verylarge Array…. Focus on improving self first
How can your goals improve the present and not keep you in a perpetual “always something better” spiral? I remember back in my college days, when anyone would ask what I wanted to do with my life, I’d give them a slew of things and add “plus something better.” While there is nothing wrong with having high aspirations, we have to start somewhere… Ideally in the here and now. That is where our growth is and where we can learn the discipline to do our best work.
If you’re the type of person always looking out for the next thing, give yourself the chance to be present in the here and now; to do the best job with what’s in front of you… On the flip side, I take pride in being a patient person but the pitfall of patience can be inaction. So as I write this post, I know that my focus must be on completing not only this post but my project… And I invite you to do same if this might apply to you. Let’s get it done already. 
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” Dr. Carl Sagan
Musings: Life in Two Parts… Hoag’s Object. Embrace the mysteries and live your life
Do You believe in Life on other Planets? I do; not in a Hollywood sort of way. While we busy ourselves with living our lives, we must be sensitive to the presence of other lifeforms. I’ve always believed that life includes more than us and that there are sentient beings in our presence. In times of great stress, people have claimed to see or meet angels; they come as ordinary folk to help us. By the same token, the movies have demonized alien lifeforms by making them evil which I don’t entirely believe… I think that, just like on earth, other planets or realms have life that exhibit good and /or evil tendencies…
The simple story of the raisin in a loaf of raisin walnut bread teaches us an important lesson: The stubborn golden raisin in a fresh loaf of bread refused to answer the hellos muttered by other raisins nearby. As far as he was concerned, he was the center of the universe and he didn’t care to connect, to learn, to grow. Even though the bright, golden raisin believed he was the center of the universe, he had simply never ventured beyond his little spot on the loaf to notice that there were lots of other raisins there… and walnuts too. Yes, there is life elsewhere and we can start by embracing and helping the kindred souls we meet on earth. What are your thoughts? What in your life are you putting off? What are your thoughts on life beyond our planet? Do share! Thank you. 
This post was inspired by a WP Daily Post prompt: Do You believe in Life on other Planets? and a prompt from RalphWaldoEmerson.me: If you had one week left to live, would you still be doing what you’re doing now? In what areas of your life are you preparing to live? Bonus: How can your goals improve the present and not keep you in a perpetual “always something better” spiral?
Positive Motivation Tip: Live your life as if it will end tomorrow while keeping in mind you are not alone.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos of the planet, USA NM, Hoag’s object via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
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