,” which sparked a thought-provoking question: what does it actually mean to live a fulfilling life? The article, which I’ve since forgotten, didn’t offer a definitive answer. It merely posed the question, leaving the reader to ponder its own meaning.
A. The Price of Happiness
B. The Illusion of Perfection
C.
I mean, they’re just trying to sell you a lifestyle, a curated image of happiness. It’s a performance, and they’re the stars. And we’re all just the audience.
Good news, Madi: You don’t have to jump out of a plane or have unending vacations to live a full and satisfying life – and there’s nothing “pseudo-profound” about it either. My boring husband and I have been boringly married for more than 34 boring years now. We live on a boring homestead farm, with two boringly successful now-grown daughters and a boringly happy and satisfying life. The end. From sociopolitical commentary to romance writing! Patrice Lewis branches into the world of Amish inspirational fiction. These clean romances are wholesome enough for Grandma to read. Check out Patrice’s available titles.
Our lives are, in many ways, remarkably predictable and safe. This predictability and safety, however, can be a double-edged sword. While it offers comfort and security, it can also lead to a sense of stagnation and boredom. The absence of challenges and risks can make us feel unfulfilled and uninspired. We crave excitement, novelty, and the opportunity to push our boundaries.
But this week I canned up 24 quarts of blueberries from our own bushes. My husband built a woodshed to house our winter firewood supply. Yawn, you say? While we were busy picking blueberries or roofing a shed, you were jumping out of airplanes or scaling a rock face? Wow. Good for you. Our modern connected world offers unprecedented opportunities to engage in astounding undertakings where we can document our exploits and create envy among our cohorts. After all, who wouldn’t want to be snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef or scaling Yosemite’s Half Dome? These people are having FUN, by golly, and don’t your lives look boring by comparison?
David Eagleman, a neuroscientist, who explains that “the brain is wired for novelty.” This means that humans are naturally inclined to seek out new experiences and challenges. However, some people are wired differently, with a preference for routine and stability. This preference for a quiet life is not a sign of weakness or lack of ambition. It’s simply a different way of experiencing the world.
The summary states that the “living fully” philosophy is based on the idea that we should be present in the moment and appreciate the beauty of life. However, this philosophy is ultimately meaningless because it lacks any concrete, actionable steps. Let’s break down the concept of “living fully” and analyze its shortcomings.
One time, a neighbor took a photo of a rainbow landing on our house. When I jokingly asked where the pot of gold was, a friend replied, “Where’s the pot of gold? You’re living in it. You’ve just gotten used to the everlasting glow around you.” Wow. I liked that. In the frantic quest for meaningful existence, these Instagram adventurers may be overlooking the most exciting adventure of all: a solid happy marriage; a humble-but-satisfying profession; a faith to carry them through good times and bad; stable well-adjusted children; and, toward the end of life, a belief in something better to come.
Frankly, folks, that’s the least-boring recipe for life I can imagine.