This past year I learned one of the most important lessons
of my life—conscious living. I
learned this from my mom as she lived the last 6 months of her life. Every day she lived to the fullest and
when her final moments on this earth came to an end I found myself celebrating
my mom; an emotion I did not think was possible in the face of death. I was celebrating what she modeled for
me—her mantra--This is not how I thought
my song would go, but I can still dance. I now start every day by stating my mantra. A mantra comes from the Eastern world
and its root word means to think. Reminding myself what is important to
me everyday, allows me to recognize and value my life and to move through the
challenges and joys of each day with a solid purpose and focus of who I am. I will share my Mantra with you:
Carpe the bananas out
of this Diem. Live Well, Laugh
Often, Love Much. When you know
better do better. Be my most
authentic self. Do not dig my
grave with my fork and knife. Take
the time to be healthy so I do not have to make the time to be sick. Less Space, Less Things, More Life. Every action you take is a choice about
the effect you want to have on the world.
My mantra comes from a series of quotes I have stumbled upon. I love quotes and I am always writing
them down. What do you value? Do you have a mantra or motto? How did you come to discover it? (Book,
music, quote, personal experience)
If you don’t have a mantra, will you begin to explore your values and
create one?
There are 86,400 seconds in a day, thank you for sharing
some of them with me!
Bolek :)
I am only going to post one quote for now that I live by because 1) I have to accumulate them all again. Some are in my phone notepad and some sprawled out in notebooks scattered around my room and 2) I will explain each quote in a new post.
ReplyDeleteOkay, here's my first: "Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you."
I heard this from the movie "If I Stay" and it made me ponder more about what had just been said. The quote itself has an anti-thesis feel to it because it takes one clause of the sentence and switches it around in the other clause. Everything you do in life is for a reason, which correlates to your quote about choices as well, but sometimes the actions you make mold and transform you without prior knowledge or consent. C'est La Vie
"I think that one of these days," he said, "you're going to have to find out where you want to go. And then you've got to start going there. But immediately. You can't afford to lose a minute. Not you."
ReplyDeletefrom The Catcher in The Rye
I have a lot to say about this quote, and the book in general.
When I hear people speak about this novel, it is either in distaste or complete connection. There are people who understand it, and people who don't. I hear people in the school hallways saying that this novel isn't that great, and that's fine; freedom of speech (and mistaken opinion). For those of you who do not relate or just don't like the book, I must argue that it is because you have missed the point. It does not matter that Holden Caulfield goes about the streets of a city, wandering aimlessly in life and staying up late at places he shouldn't be. What truly matters and what only matters in life is WHY. Why do you do the things you do?
When speaking about this novel to a teacher and a writer herself, she claimed to not get what "all the hype was about" and that it is not that great. She went so far as to say, "I've already surpassed that period in my life when I would relate to it, and even then when I read it in high school I had already matured."
I find this quite interesting. When will you ever surpass connection with a novel for good? You never truly know if a situation or period of time in your future will drag you back down to where you once were. Then I might argue, you've been there all along. You just choose what you want to pay attention to about your life.
As for this quote, I embark on a new journey with every moment spent studying the intent of this collection of words. There is nothing extravagant about the way this sentence was written, which is why it is all the more important to see past its 'bleakness' and look underneath, where the real meaning is. You will never truly be ready for anything in your life. Not for college, not for marriage, not for children, and not for death. You will go your entire life attempting to prepare yourself to the maximum for what you want or what you plan, but it will never happen that way. This is why you must do what you want in life in the most steadfast manner. You cannot plan your life, you must simply live it. So what are you waiting for? You're as ready as you will ever be, right here and right now. Stop waiting. Stop planning.
I just sandwiched Nolan's comment.
DeleteFor the first 27 years of my life, I planned everything. Then, when my kids were born, I realized the beauty of the spontaneity children bring to your life. And even as a planner, when you stop and pay attention to the events in your life, you will notice they will all add up. The dots will always connect.
DeleteI agree that planning and being organized is not necessarily bad, but over planning can be. Like you said, spontaneity is beautiful! The majority of my favorite moments in life happened by impulse and a spur of the moment :D
DeleteOne of my favorite quotes is from Heathers the Musical.
ReplyDelete"We're all damaged, we're all frightened, we're all freaks, but that's alright."
This just makes me feel like I'm not alone in the situations that I'm in, and that other people understand how crazy life can be.
Kismet--one of my favorite words!
DeleteMy favorite quote would have to be, "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die tomorrow". It makes me think that I want to be that person that lives and dreams like that, that makes smart but fun decisions
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading a book called the Alchemist. In the back of the book they interview the author and is said on his tombstone he wants the following quote--"I died while living." This was my take away from the book, because it too reminds us to live each day to the fullest.
DeleteI have trouble coming up with just one quote that I live by. Growing up, my parents taught me the golden rule: Treat others how you want to be treated. I feel like that is something I live by. Living by this has taught me to be kind without restrictions. I do not do something for someone and expect to be rewarded. Helping people is the greatest reward. (Apologies for the cheesiness)
ReplyDeleteWhen you treat people the way you want to be treated, pay attention to all the kindness that comes back your way. There is no small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple effect with no end!
DeleteHaving experienced a similar situation with death over the past few months I agree with this post whole heartedly. At times it seems like we as individuals are just going through the motions of life but it takes some sort of realization to remember that we have this one life to live (presumably) and it is up to us how we choose to live it.
ReplyDeleteEveryone dies. But not all have lived.
DeleteThe true wealth in life comes not from the paycheck but from how you live our life. I am so glad you have already learned this secret to life! Who needs the lotto :)
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ReplyDeleteI have many many mantra's or trademarks I've made my own. but the ones that I seem to use the most are either 1 of 2. My first one is one I used today when I saw my best friend standing there like the geek he is in all of his light Blue John Cena Gear and I'm standing there in my Miz T-Shirt. I just walk up to him and tell him one of my phrases I use very often on facebook. "Because I'm The Niz and I'm AWESOME!" He just laughed and carried on with what he was doing, flashing the three-fingered sign of his "HLR" thing (Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect). My second catchphrase is one that both 3-6-D and Moxcity both use on their way into a rap battle or against somebody in ANYTHING. I have adopted it as my own because I said it just before my FIRST RAP BATTLE EVER and it just stuck. I may need to use it again soon because 3-6-D seems to be becoming a trend again. But the phrase is this: "This is you last chance. Back out or seal your fate, because you're about to go FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE MAN WHO RUNS THE PLACE!" I have many more phrases I claim as mine, but those two are the ones I use most often. If I had one that was like a life quote, it would be something like this: "A Legacy is not just a story you leave behind. "A Legacy is a story and the mark you left on people because of it."
ReplyDeleteI like my life quote because that came from my own head. If it's been said before I'm not aware of it. I'm good at the whole life quote's thing. You'd know if you have Mrs. Saelens for math by the quotes 3-6-D or Moxcity would leave on her board.
DeleteI like the way you describe seeing your best friend and the way you describe the small moment you both have of happiness through essentially an inside joke, something you two completely get and what sets you apart from anyone else. In the most non-diminishing way, it was adorable.
DeleteThank you, then again, Ryan and I laugh at practically EVERYTHING. Nevertheless, thank you for the compliment.
DeleteI meant the way you described the small moment where you noticed your best friend and had that awe-strucking experience of "we may look different but we are the same on the inside" (Both of you are wearing different t-shirts), and this is a feeling that will never, ever grow old, even if the people wearing the t-shirts one day will! And you are most welcome
DeletePeople is why we do everything. Everyday you have the choice of how to embrace the people in your life. I am glad you embrace them with AWESOME!
Delete^^Actually Amber, I hate to contradict you, but other than the fact we're both WWE fanatics for our favorite Superstars(Ryan: John Cena. Me: The Miz), we actually have practically have NOTHING in common. I sometimes wonder why him and I are friends to begin with. We are ALWAYS making the other one like a total IDIOT.We love doing it to each other, I'm not sure why. Him and I have a messed up friendship. Him and I in reality, shouldn't EVER get along. But the fact that we do is something else. So I guess I'm not really contradicting you, I'm just correcting you because I must have given the wrong idea. But yes, when him and I are in the same room, it's not something that shouldn't be happening.
DeleteI can't really think of any quotes or mantras I have, but I try to be mindful of the things I tell myself. It can have a big impact on your life and how you see things. Positive mantras can impact your views too. But I guess my mantra would be something like "You're almost there". Where? I don't know but I'm close, apparently.
ReplyDeleteI like it! The most important person we talk to each day is ourselves. What we tell ourselves matters. Keep being your #1 fan!
DeleteI think this is a wonderful mantra to live by. Often times those who speak less are heard the most. This will get you far in life.
ReplyDeleteYour post really made me think about what exactly I want to live for. I absolutely love your mantra and think it is incredibly powerful, as for myself I do not have one. I often catch myself in the middle of a moment reflecting on how I am acting, if my future self would be proud of the decision I am making in that exact moment and is this something that is going to have any negative effect on others. After reading your post I do have a desire to explore and create a mantra of my own, something to remind me of my purpose, so that I don't lose track of what is important to me.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite quotes though is "Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are." -John McLaughlin
I am so excited for the adventure you are about to begin! Remember defining yourself takes time and it is a process that never ends. I started by paying attention to the moments in my day that would stand out--a conversation, a quote, etc. Even after typing it out for all of you to read, I realized I love laughing and smiling and I need to give that a shout out! Enjoy defining your awesomeness!
DeleteI like to live my life by this verse. "Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." I don't remember how I stumbled upon this but ever since I did, it has helped me in more ways than imaginable. It is my go to thought when things are seemingly bad.
ReplyDeleteI love the strength of your mantra. But not only does this shape you in bad times it defines how you will celebrate your good times! Thank you for sharing!
DeleteLets all pretend we aren't parasites on this beautiful planet. Humanity ravages this world as we are all in a desperate race to find our place. Simple fact is we don't belong here.
ReplyDeleteI would rather fall behind then step on others toes along the way. no matter how righteous the cause.