Having the Whole Thing
Chapter 1
What does have it all mean? You’re not categorized into a package, a pocket, or a square on a waffle as a person, friend, worker. Life is a mess.
How you do one thing is how you do everything; how you work on one thing flows through to every other area of your life. Is it really that simple? In can be. Let’s go on a journey.
And if you are going to eat it all, start with one piece at a time.
Pondering
Ah, my dear friend, the notion of 'having it all' is a compelling dream that often proves elusive in practice. Life, you see, is a series of trade-offs, a delicate balancing act between competing priorities and desires.
Pursuing one goal with single-minded determination may mean sacrificing other goals equally dear to us. For every choice we make, countless paths are left untraveled, opportunities left unexplored.
Yet, while we may not be able to have it all simultaneously, we can strive to lead a life of balance and fulfillment. By setting clear priorities, managing our time and resources wisely, and cultivating gratitude for what we have, we can create a rich life of meaning and purpose.
The true secret to 'having it all' lies not in acquiring material wealth or status but in pursuing a well-lived life characterized by integrity, generosity, and a steadfast commitment to our values.
In the end, my friend, it is not about having it all but about making the most of what we have and finding contentment in the journey itself.
Take Action
Let’s start with getting clarity. You get to live on your terms, choose and design it, and figure out what you want.
If you don’t have clarity, how will you know where you want to be? What does have it all mean? It’s no good trying to emulate someone else's successful lifestyle.
For me, it’s with friends and family, whether it's the freedom to travel around the world or staying at home on the block with neighbors; but for others, it might mean spending more time with your children at home, reading books, or watching movies. Having it all has to be what feels right, not what looks good on paper.
Then, get alignment. Alignment is a tricky word. Only a few people teach it. Alignment is the difference between what feels good and what shows up in your life. How do you stay focused on keeping it together. And get to know yourself
Resources
Motivation and Intentional Life
Chapter 2
Start with your intention, and start now. To define it you need to understand two items, and how they inter-relate.
What are we doing—keeping busy, being productive, like a machine? It's a nasty thought.
Why is why are you doing that stuff? What do we tell ourselves?
Our motivation or intentions - is our mission - Our values are our guiding star
Let’s move on from process-based to purpose-based thoughts!
Ponder
Alright, kiddos, here’s the deal. Imagine you're a machine. Cold, metallic, whirring away, cranking out tasks like a mindless automaton. Now, picture yourself as a human being. Warm, breathing, filled with ideas, dreams, and a purpose. Quite a difference, isn't it?
We're constantly in motion, like ants in a hill or workers on an assembly line. But why? What’s the grand plan here? Are we just keeping busy for the sake of it, or is there a deeper meaning? That's where it gets interesting.
This isn’t about your 9-to-5 grind or crossing off a never-ending to-do list. This is about living with intention. Making every step, every decision, every breath mean something.
So, let’s stop being machines. Let’s be human beings, with all the messiness, beauty, and purpose that entails. Move from just doing to truly living. Because life is what happens when we’re busy making other plans.
Take Action
Reflect on Your Values: Sit yourself down, grab a cup of coffee or a stiff drink, and ask, "What truly matters to me?" Write it down. Stick it on your fridge. Tattoo it on your forehead if you must.
Set Clear Intentions: Know your mission. It doesn’t have to be grandiose. It just has to be yours. Align your daily grind with this mission, so even the mundane feels like it's part of a bigger picture.
Align Actions with Beliefs: Ever find yourself doing something and thinking, "Why the hell am I doing this?" If it doesn’t jive with your values, toss it. Life’s too short for that nonsense.
Practice Presence: Be here. Now. Not lost in the regrets of yesterday or the anxieties of tomorrow. Just here, in this moment, because it’s all you’ve got.
Cultivate Wellness and Joy: Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep well, laugh until your sides hurt. Find what makes you happy and do it, often.
Resources
Time Encapsulated
Chapter 3
"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." — William Penn
"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind." — Nathaniel Hawthorne
"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." — Leo Tolstoy
"Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time' is to say 'I don't want to.'" — Lao Tzo
"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." — Marthe Troly-Curtin
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." — Albert Einstein
"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend." — Theophrastus
"Time brings all things to pass." — Aeschylus
"Time is the wisest counselor of all." — Pericles
"Lost time is never found again." — Benjamin Franklin