Living life to the fullest to me means doing what you want when you want, within reason. Today it was snowing hard and about 18 degrees F with a 20 MPH wind, in upstate NY. But I went for an hour and half walk anyway. It was a tough walk, but well worth it due to the satisfaction that I got from the walk.
If my life were any fuller, I'd be dead.
It all started with my daughter, you see. Granted, blaming an eight-year-old is probably not popular, but as she reminds me constantly, she's a big girl now. Eight going on forty, my late in life surprise. She was also God's tool to make me sit down and get something done. Imagine me, the chronic rolling stone, the former singer-songwriter, sitting anywhere long enough to gather anything so ridiculous as moss.
Anyway, there I am in 1999, a new mom at forty-four of my first and only child. And I discover slowly (look at the hair color, people) that my whole mindset has changed. I have become, dare I say it, responsible and motivated. Parenting has to be the toughest job I ever took on, and single parenting doubly so. And although I find being a parent very rewarding in general, there are those days when the eight-year-old blessing turns me into Exorcist Mom in a mere glance. I still haven't figured out quite how she's able to do that when no one else can, but hey, that's another research topic for another day. When I'm not quite so busy.
Now, if all of the above wasn't time-consuming enough, I decide in 2003 to return to writing. I become a novelist in my so-called spare time, presently working on book number fifteen. (And no, my house isn't the cleanest on earth, but there's only so many hours in a day, and last I checked, there were no infectious diseases running rampant either. Well, at least I haven't heard any complaints from friends and neighbors--so far.)
In 2006, my life obviously wasn't full enough, what with buying a house for the first time the year before so the one and only child, the light of my life, has somewhere stable to call home during her formative years, so I start this little old publishing company, Jigsaw Press. And all this on top of working part-time four days a week to make the ends meet in the middle.
Did I mention someone gave me a sweet little mare last Labor Day? And that this mare, Pepper, is due to foal next month?
Now, if someone has any tips for removing that green fuzz building up on my dragging ass, I'm all ears. Just make it quick, please, because I think I'm out of time.
M.L. Bushman
The fullest life............mmmmm, embracing every minute, enjoying the good times, learning from the bad times~even trying to find a sweet moment to cherish during the bad times....you know, like times that a friend comes along side to help you through the rough spots, or learning to look for a spot of blue sky in a cloudy day.
But to make it specific......My life is incredible, I am blessed with good health. And I am striving to keep it that way. To embrace a healthy lifestyle, I have joined a gym, and even have a personal trainer. I look forward to exercising, love the feeling of acomplishment of when I've put in the time and can see and feel the results. I feel alive when those muscles ache!
My life is the fullest when I am relaxing alone, enjoying the quiet solitude or when the house is reverberating with noisy grandchildren.
The fullest life is seeing my children blossom into responsible adults and become loving parents......the result of all those years of worry and blessing coming to fruitation. Enjoying sticky hugs and kisses from grandchildren and enjoying the time when they head back home! (and not feeling one bit guilty about it).
My fullest life is dreaming dreams and working to make them come true, but not boxing those dreams into a limited space.....maybe a little like desiring an exotic vacation and finding it within a day's drive! Letting go of disappointment opens up opportunity just waiting to be discovered.
My fullest life is living each day like it is my last, but with the promise of tomorrow waiting on the horizon.
THE LIST
Living life to the fullest is a mindset, an attitude and a plan. Having a “busy” life didn't always qualify.
When I was married and the kids were young, I had a full and happy life. But, about a decade ago, I found myself divorced, unemployed, and alone, with both kids getting married in 1998. I developed a busy life with whatever might fill the void. I took classes, got a real estate license, reconnected with friends and family, etc.
It was not wasted time, but neither was it was fulfilling.
So, THE LIST came to be. I made a list of things I’d never done and wanted to try and a list of things I had experienced and wanted to do again. After five years, I had to make a new list.
THE LIST became my guide for stepping outside my comfort zone. There were some very basic things and some cool adventures on that first list. The amazing thing is that most of them led to fantastic experiences and changes in my life. I met new people, tried new things and then I realized I was enjoying life to the fullest.
One goal was to eat alone in a restaurant. Looking back, it seems such a small thing, but now I never think twice about going somewhere by myself. That has led to great adventures.
Another was to go white-water rafting. I had so much fun that I spent two weeks driving the shuttle for the outfitter.
A chance meeting in Colorado led to a two-year action-packed adventure. I worked, played and loved in the San Juan Mountains of the southern Rockies. Every minute was filled and fulfilling. I worked long hours but still hiked the mountains, shot tons of pictures, became involved with the Red Cross, and shared life with a wide cross-section of wonderful, and, sometimes eccentric, people. When a weekend came with no plans, one of my friends would call and ask what was left on the list or could they add something. It led to the most incredible times.
Now, I’m back home in Texas. Both kids, four grandchildren, and my parents are here. We have good relationships and, as my son explains to his boys, Grandma is great but she is a little different. I love being Grandma!
In the last two years I discovered the beauty of Big Bend National Park and the fun of the Texas Hill Country. I rode a train (last item from the first list), took the grandsons to Colorado, and am eating healthier.
The latest list? Under revision. I recently broke my left ankle and my right knee cap. Maneuvering in a wheel chair has given me such a perspective that I know the next phase of this wonderful journey we call life holds a new purpose for me. And that goes on THE LIST.
Thank you all for your week 1 submission. Don't forget- if you aren't the chosen submission- you can submit your story for consideration in week 2! Good Luck!
