(This is going to feel random but stick with me. 😉😉😉)
Okay, Let's say on average, we all get 75 summers, falls, winters, and springs. Reality dictates that there are too many variables that could shorten or lengthen that time but for the sake of the blog, let's give us a solid 75 years.
I am 52 (July) so that means I got about 23 cycles left. When you think of it that way, that's not a lot of time. What's interesting is that even with this knowledge of our finite timeline in this realm of existence, WE STILL WASTE TIME WITH BULLSHIT THAT DOESN'T MATTER.
(okay, I'm composed...maybe)
I'm losing people and the truth of the matter is the longer you live, the more people you will have to say goodbye to. My dad is 86yo and he has seen his parents depart, all of his siblings he grew up with depart, life long friends and family, even his children's friends who have passes on that he considered his extra kids, he has said goodbye to so many people. People can look at it as a blessing of long life or the sadness of long life. Both are valid.
This post, however, isn't necessarily about how long we may have left but what we do with the time we have left. Morbid convo? Not really but it can be sobering. No one wants to think about our exit from this life but it is an inevitability that no one who has ever been born will escape. I try to think of end of life as completing the mission I was sent here to complete. Granted, the mission will end no matter what we've accomplished or wish we could have done so at some point, regrets are useless and living to accommodate others is pretty ridiculous in the grand scope of life. I was thinking about a creative project I completed in 2021 with a friend and how much fun it was managing the process. I want to do more of this but time is getting away from us and prioritizing projects, for me, has been tough but I hope to get better at not trying to do every thing all the time. The project we started is called HAPPY GOES THE DAY about a young professional, Magnolia, and her band of merry homies. Her sister Jaymes, and coworker Crissa are my favorite characters. lol I've written more scripts but the team needs to coordinate schedules and contracts to keep them going. That's just an example of one creative thing I want to do and not feel like I'm prioritizing it over something more important or something perceived to be more important. I get to determine what is priority and I'm starting to appreciate that more each day.
Basically, the time I have left, however much that will be, needs to be spent doing what I love doing, helping others, creating, and enjoying expanding my creative energy. I really hope to connect with the team of creatives and innovators to make my nonprofit come to fruition. This has been an objective for me for many years but the thoughts about starting it have become more concentrated over the last decade. I realize that I have actually lived much of what I've dreamed about, thought how those dreams are manifested looks weird sometimes but... still. I dreamed and worked to get my BA degree without paying any more money out of pocket because I've paid so much over the decades. Well, that happened. Georgetown University, Class of '22. Started my masters but realized the program I was in was not my vibe. It wasn't a good fit but I was willing to keep going. After leaving an executive role at Georgetown and moving away, I needed a hiatus. How many people say "I just need to not work for a while but I can't just stop." Well, I did. Two years rest. Granted, I have coached and did some workshop facilitation after I left but I was able to sit on my deck, with a drink, a cigar, my dog by my side and watch the trees, listen to the birds, and at night, watch a sky full of starts I couldn't have seen in DC.
I desire to tap into my creative self and become more engaged in the arts. I wanted to change my environment so that I can be creatively nourished after years of creative dehydration. Now, in September, I start my second masters program at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). The day after I enrolled last week, I took advantage of a watercolor and different medium technique workshop. It was awesome!!! Sometimes, even in challenging times, I have to reflect on where I am and ask myself, "Regardless of what it feels like, am I living inside of my dream or what I requested of the universe?" I must say "Yes!" It's tough but I wanted to leave DC. I'm out. I wanted to get some rest. Rested. I wanted to go back to a creative school and yep. I'm coaching, and finally starting my nonprofit for young creatives and innovators. It's been on my mind to head to Savannah before finishing my grad program at SCAD. I can go to the Atlanta campus but Savannah is calling me. We'll see. I know my nonprofit would benefit from the concentration of artists and creative innovators there. We'll see.
Life is not always easy, fair, kind, or logical, but as long as life keeps lifing, we can make parts of it beautiful.
I hope you're living inside of your dreams.
~Stay TRU💋
