August 2, 2013

ISIQ-0213

“Love is life. And if you miss love,  you miss life.” – Leo Buscaglia

I woke up feeling really grumpy with the world today. I had to work. I had to look after the kids. I had a bunch of stuff to do. Boo freaking hoo.

So I took charge of the day, got my butt out the door for a brisk walk in the fresh morning air, got some sunshine on my face, and worked up a bit of a sweat.

(The motivation was to hit the grocer, buy a loaf of gluten-free bread and some oranges, and get back home before all hell broke loose in a low-blood-sugar-meltdown.)

The walk was sublime. I was utterly present to the sensations surrounding me; the crispness of the air on my face and the gentle burn as it hit my nose, and the way the morning sunlight caught the buildings and coloured them with reds, oranges and yellows.

Later in the day, I gave a client her gorgeous family portrait frames (which she loved) and in the process, was able to enjoy some of the sun’s warmth. My office is like a freezer, so any excuse to catch some rays during the day is alright by me.

Then I took Indrani to swimming lessons, and had Rilien along for the ride. We had such fun. Rilien and I tickled, laughed and cuddled on the side of the pool while Indrani made me so proud with her lap swimming and her vastly-improved strokes.

As I sat there, I realised how lucky I am.

I’m lucky to have such beautiful, healthy, active kids who love it when I’m around, and are eager to share their lives, stories and imaginations with me.

I’m lucky because I have built a lifestyle around my family, meaning that I can drop everything work-related on a moment’s notice, and be with them. This afternoon, my wife had her first health & wellness coaching appointment, so I stepped in on Dad Duty.

I’m lucky because my wife shares my vision for our lifestyle – in fact, she largely created the vision a couple of years ago when I suffered serious depression. The lifestyle we currently live is directly traceable to Belinda’s desire for a functioning husband and a happy home.

Most of all, I’m lucky because I know how good I’ve got it, and I cherish it every single day. 

I love my life, and I feel I am loved by my life in return.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been practising a daily love ritual of doing something for me, every day. Whether that is yoga, surfing, running, a brisk walk (today), or some time with a good book – I’ve managed to do something for myself every single day, except for two in the past three weeks.

It should be no surprise to you when I tell you that the two days I didn’t do my daily practice were the two worst days of that three weeks.

What I didn’t expect, however, was the volume of serendipitous occurrences that have started popping up in my life as a result. I have had more successes in my business in the past three weeks than I’ve had in the past three months. I receive or find new opportunities daily; I experience moments like today – being present and grateful for the wonderful life I lead – far more regularly than I ever have.

Simply, life is the most fun it has been in AGES, and I am – without question – the best version of me that I’ve been in about the same amount of time.

So the point of this essay is this: Love yourself, love your life, and love your experiences. And, in turn, your life, your self, and your experiences will love you back.

True story.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, opinions, or experiences on this topic. Leave a comment or drop me a reply.

With love,
Israel. xo

 

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