Today (April 30) is my 39th Un-un-birthday, and as usual, the day is a good day to pause and reflect.
Last year I wrote
38 Life Lessons I’ve Learned in 38 Years, and people seemed to find some use in it.
This year, I thought I’d share an additional lesson I’ve learned:
You’re not missing out.
Our lives are often ruled by the Fear of Missing Out, or FOMO. (Never heard of
FOMO? You’re missing out.)
Some ways we let the fear of missing out rule us:
- We check email, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks often, in case we’re missing something important.
- We try and do the most exciting things, and are constantly in search
of exciting things, because we’re worried we might miss out on the fun
that others are having.
- We constantly read about what other people are doing, and try to
emulate them, because it sounds like they’re doing something great that
we’re not.
- We often want to travel the world, because it seems that other people are living amazing lives by traveling all the time.
- We miss what we don’t have, miss places and people who we aren’t with.
- We work constantly, because we think if we don’t, we might miss out on opportunities other people will get.
- We feel like our own lives are poor in comparison with the great lives others are leading, and so feel bad about ourselves.
I could go on and on, but I have a birthday breakfast to eat (Eva and
the kids are baking something delicious), so I’ll stop there.
We fear missing out, but why?
The truth is, we could run around trying to do everything exciting,
and travel around the world, and always stay in touch with our iPhones
and Crackberries, and work and party all day long without sleep … but we
could never do it all. We will always be missing something.
And so, if we cannot help missing out, what is a saner alternative
than letting this fear drive us? Let go of it, and realize you have
everything right now.
The best in life isn’t somewhere else. It’s right where you are, at this moment. There is nothing better than exactly that.
Pause for just 10 seconds, and notice where you are, what you’re
doing, who you are, at this very moment. Notice that you are breathing,
and how lovely that is. Notice that you can smile, and feel the joy in
that. Notice the good things around you. Give thanks for the people
you’ve seen today. Celebrate the perhaps not altogether insignificant
fact that
you are alive.
This moment, and
who you are, is absolutely perfect.
You are missing nothing, because there is nothing better.
You can breathe, and let go of all that fear of missing out, and be
happy with what you have. Be grateful, and each moment think not about
what you’re missing, but what you’ve been given.
This past year has been my best ever, because each day I have
celebrated my Un-birthday with a smile and warmth in my heart. Today, I
celebrate my non-un-birthday, and it is perfect. This moment I have
spent talking to you is a gift. Thank you, my friends.
Be Different, Act Normal by Lorie...
