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The title of this newsletter comes from the song, “While I Can” by Matthew West. This song has recently struck me as I celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago. It speaks to reflecting on how you would spend your last day, if you knew it was your last day, and what it would be like to do those exact things while you still have life left. Give the song a listen - it’s simultaneously moving and challenging. It seems like as the days, weeks, and months go by, life is only speeding up. So many commitments to all the events. So many reminders and calendar appointments. So many meetings. (Of course, a lot of these commitments can be wonderful, which can make it hard to know what to agree to and politely decline from.) However, in the midst of so much busyness, it is really difficult to carve out time for what is refreshing and life giving. The song mentioned above made me look at my full calendar and consider: am I intentionally living my life in a way that makes me feel satisfied with my decisions? Or am I letting the bustle of life waft me through my days without much thought into how I want to spend my time? I wonder if you have ever had thoughts like this. Thoughts of contemplating what a better balance would look and feel like. Recently, I have been enjoying time at Monrovia Canyon Park at a tucked away spot. You can see my view in the photo above. I refer to it as the “brook nook” due to the proximity to running water and how cozy I feel while breathing in the crisp mountain air. I want to spend more time here because it slows me down, forces me to disconnect from technology, and be present with nature and myself. I don’t want to wait until I feel like I have more time to participate in activities like this - tomorrow is not promised and taking advantage of local resources like this one helps me be the best version of myself. Without time to connect to something bigger than my immediate circumstances, I notice my capacity for compassion and gentleness dwindles. I can be irritable and feel myself entering moments of dips into a less regulated emotional state. Spending time doing activities that restore my joy are essential to my wellbeing. And they need to be a regular part of my routine, which usually means these are not elaborate “bucket list” items that I am trying to tackle during the week. If I were to list out what I would do if today were my last day, it would be engaging in the simple things that bring me the deepest amount of joy. No big production. Nothing elaborate. Simply participating in what matters most to me. In conclusion, I would like to propose a thought exercise with the caveat that it is a privilege to be able to consider what your last day could look like and use that as inspiration for making your days more meaningful. This exercise does not ignore the fact that so many of us know people who passed before their time or in an unexpected way. Holding that in mind, if you feel inclined, take a moment to consider: how would you spend your last day? Now that you have those things in mind, what prevents you from doing those things more often? Could you imagine a week in which even one of those items were a part of your regular schedule? How might this restore some of your joy? Mountain clarity: If at all possible, try not to wait until it is too late to name and pursue what nourishes your soul. The more attuned and aligned you are with what feels joyful, peaceful, meaningful, and purposeful for you personally, the more likely it will be that you find yourself living in a more connected manner. Connected to yourself, others, perhaps even your higher power. The phrase, “The mountains are calling” speaks deeply to my soul. What is calling out to you? Start listening to those callings today before you no longer have the option to. Journaling prompts for reflection: What would you consider your “perfect day”? How would you spend it and with whom? What emotions come up for you when you think about your last day and how you would spend it? If you were to create your own “What has been nourishing me this month” box like what I have below, what would you include? Did you notice it was easy, difficult, or somewhere in between to come up with things you found enjoyable? How can you increase the amount of time you put towards nourishing activities? Is there currently any time at all for those things? What would prevent you from pursuing joyful activities? Are those factors in your control? If so, is there a way to address or modify them so there is more space for you? Can you think of the last time you felt joyful or like you were fully living out your purpose? What was that like? What aspects of life would need to be present to replicate that experience?
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