Exactly Where You're Meant to Be
Growing up, there was this fantasy that lies within most girls I'm sure, that finding someone to live happily ever after with is perfect.
Life doesn't really start until you've found perfect. For a long time, I was living my life happily as an independent single woman, but felt very alone without someone to share those moments with. Every trip, tough run, funny thing that happened to me while running errands felt lonely.
I did not feel perfect (or complete). Sometimes, I felt empty no matter how full I filled my days. I was sure that if I never found love, I would a be miserable old maid.
Just as I had began thinking I needed to REALLY push myself outside my comfort zone - going to restaurants/bars alone, trying new activities, volunteering or even leave Eugene - I met Pete.
Over the three and a half years we've been together, I looked forward to the day he would get down on one knee, waiting for things to get really good.
But you know what, it's been great all along. Instead of waiting for perfect to come around, maybe we should start believing that where we are right now is exactly where we're supposed to be. I know many yogis would agree with this philosophy, so it must be right. Right?!
Waiting for the day we'd get engaged was agonizing at times. Honestly, I didn't know what I was expecting, but I knew I was ready for that lifelong commitment.
The interesting thing is, things DO feel somewhat different as an engaged couple. I don't really know why. Things were great before, but now it's as though making a public statement to the world makes it MORE awesome and MORE real. Plus, you get to say fiance and be ridiculous about it.
I guess my whole point is that in any aspect of life, when I've waited for things to *poof* be perfect, they miraculously never were. Having a ring on my finger didn't erase our quirks, but it did make me more ready than ever to achieve things together as a couple. Jump over hurdles as they come.
In this area of my life, I'm really trying to embrace the moment. Other parts of my life...well, I have some work to do.
Do you guys have any tips for staying in the moment and appreciating where you are in life? For me, the keys to this are 1) telling my friends and family how special they are and 2) doing yoga. For some reason, taking deep breaths and focusing only on my body in a specific pose really allows me to come to a place of reflection and appreciation.
I love what our Lifeforce Fitness teacher Jay says..."Warrior II is the perfect pose because your front arm tells you where you're going, your back arm reminds you of the past and your center is the present and exactly where you're supposed to be." Or something to that effect. ;)
P.S. Yesterday was my 5 YEAR anniversary of this blog. Feels like just yesterday... ha!
Life doesn't really start until you've found perfect. For a long time, I was living my life happily as an independent single woman, but felt very alone without someone to share those moments with. Every trip, tough run, funny thing that happened to me while running errands felt lonely.
I did not feel perfect (or complete). Sometimes, I felt empty no matter how full I filled my days. I was sure that if I never found love, I would a be miserable old maid.
Just as I had began thinking I needed to REALLY push myself outside my comfort zone - going to restaurants/bars alone, trying new activities, volunteering or even leave Eugene - I met Pete.
Over the three and a half years we've been together, I looked forward to the day he would get down on one knee, waiting for things to get really good.
Waiting for the day we'd get engaged was agonizing at times. Honestly, I didn't know what I was expecting, but I knew I was ready for that lifelong commitment.
The interesting thing is, things DO feel somewhat different as an engaged couple. I don't really know why. Things were great before, but now it's as though making a public statement to the world makes it MORE awesome and MORE real. Plus, you get to say fiance and be ridiculous about it.
In this area of my life, I'm really trying to embrace the moment. Other parts of my life...well, I have some work to do.
Do you guys have any tips for staying in the moment and appreciating where you are in life? For me, the keys to this are 1) telling my friends and family how special they are and 2) doing yoga. For some reason, taking deep breaths and focusing only on my body in a specific pose really allows me to come to a place of reflection and appreciation.
P.S. Yesterday was my 5 YEAR anniversary of this blog. Feels like just yesterday... ha!
Comments
BUT, on the other side of your post, I think your so right that another person cannot be relied on to make our lives "perfect" or "happy". We have to make ourselves happy and I really believe that unless we're happy with ourselves that another person will never make us completely, 100% happy!
I don't want to bug you because I know how annoying it can be but I'm anxious to hear more about your wedding plans :) :)
I think in most cases, when your personality has that drive to explore but the tendency to stay in a comfort zone, you have to find what joys there are in what you DO have (usually/hopefully that list is long), and embracing it.
Yoga helps me do this, too, and its amazing to look back and see the shift in my mindset since I really started taking that practice "seriously". I also think writing things down regularly, reading & doing things that make you happy and invoke thought, and being around people who bring out the best in you, are all essential, too.
Love this post.
It has always been apparent to me how happy you & the man friend make each other. Which is why I was so excited when you got engaged because it's nice to see 2 awesome people end up together and solidify that commitment with the vows of marriage. I can see how being engaged does change things (for the better). There is just something thrilling about an engagement (well, at least in my mind, I wouldn't know obviously!).