There were six kids in my family growing up–three girls and three boys. I am the youngest girl. One of my sisters was always working towards some goal from a very young age. Everything centered around the goal. She was miserable in the process and made everyone miserable around her.
I remember thinking that it would be better once she achieved the goal. But alas, once that goal was reached, there was another one...and another one. At one point, I began to see that this may never change. Much later in life, it was clear that even after she achieved so much, there was yet another future goal and that she was still pretty miserable. So much so that we eventually stopped communicating altogether. It’s sad as I actually never saw her happy with any of the goals she reached.
This was a great lesson for me early on and a clear example of what not to do. I’ve learned to hold onto future goals very lightly as I, too, found that once I reach them, they don’t offer the promised happiness but often end up feeling like sand in my hands.
When do I actually live my life? Now, and if there will be some change in the future, it will take place now. We actually never reach a future, for there is simply only the continuity of now.
I must say that living from the perspective of ”now” really has little to do with circumstances and conditions, for these might not attest to anything close to joyful at times. However deep I have to dig, it is a decision to experience joy no matter the circumstances and conditions, and when I do this, I see those circumstances and conditions in a whole new (and yes, joyful) light.
Princess Sassy Pants & Co.™ 
Life is like that, we remain to be joyously participating
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Reblogged this on Simply Inspiring Quotes.
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Very much agree Sassy! Now is the time to enjoy the sights meant for each of us. You are a treasure.
-IWALU
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I wonder, have you two reconciled? I fully understand how siblings can grow apart. My oldest son of four kids grew apart from the rest, due to several variants. They are still cordial, but the closeness they shared when young simply disappeared. Same with husband and his two younger half brothers…they grew apart the last couple of years of my husband’s life…so much so that for he or I to ask them for support with their mom, who stayed with us 6 months out of the year, went unanswered. he was told, “well, I guess it sucks being YOU!” and “when she gave you the family home, you also got her as well.” Now that he is gone and I told them I would no longer be in that house or with her, I became enemy #1. So….I look back and see how he and I balanced our lives around their own wants and needs to the detriment of ourselves. Live life in the NOW…you may not have next year, next week or even tomorrow, as he kept telling me, when he was healthier, “oh we can’t go away, we have to watch her.” Well, she wasn’t helpless, nor an invalid…but he felt so MUCH responsibility towards her and the fact his brothers didn’t…yeah, those are the memories I now carry since he passed away.
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Thank you so much Jane for these inspirational and insightful words. Thank you also for the Sweet painting.🙏🏻✝️
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I SO look forward to your daily artwork and deep pondering. Thx for your efforts on our behalf.
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