Living a Full Life

“Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour.”
-William Cowper

Living a full life is like eating a delicious meal of varied foods made up of many different colors, textures and flavors.

Imagine this, you have before you a meal with one kind of food. It is a food you like. It is filling and warm. But that’s it, nothing else.

Now imagine you have before you a meal made up of many foods you like. You see lots of different dishes, fresh green, enticing reds and pinks, comforting yellows and whites, delicious looking purples. There are crunchy foods and soft foods, warm and cool, salty and sweet, sour, and even bitter to set off the other flavors. All your favorites. Which meal would you rather eat?
 
If you’re like me you’ll go for the variety every time. So why do we tend to eat the same foods most of the time?

More importantly why do we do the same thing in our lives? Why do we fill up our days with just a few, familiar repeated activities, day after day?

We are busy, busy, busy, doing the same things over and over.

Perhaps it feels safer. We opt for the known rather than the unknown. We choose to do what we know we can do rather than trying something new.

What happens when we do try something new? It can be scary.

Recently I signed up to take a tap dance class. Something I’ve always wanted to do. Not surprisingly, I did my own emotional tap dance beforehand through all the what if’s my fear brought up.

What if I feel silly and awkward? Especially at first. Who hasn’t trying to learn something new?

What if I injure myself? I’m 64 years old and not in great shape.  Realistically, I might injure myself walking down my own familiar stairs. In fact, I have, more than once. I still go up and down stairs every day.

What if I feel shy meeting new people? Yup, probably will at first. After one lesson of stumbling around together, I probably won’t feel that shy anymore.

What if I don't want to give up the time?  Really, what would I be doing otherwise? Chances are it would be something that I do every day, not something new and energizing.

What about about spending the money on the class and dance attire?  I have to ask myself, “Is it a priority to energize my life?” Yes, it is.
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As it turned out, it was worth it. I walked out of the first class with sore legs and buoyant spirit.

Some of my what if's came true. I was the only beginner in the class and felt awkward and shy. My feet were not on the same page as my mind for most of the class.

But it didn't matter. Each time I managed the steps in rhythm felt like a small victory. The members of the class were welcoming and I’ve got a video to practice with. I know I’ll do a little better with each class. Best of all, it was fun.

Variety and learning something new are energizing. Learning something new expands who we are. That’s definitely worth making a priority.
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We can have the mind-set that it is better to stay with the same old, same old. Or we can have the mind-set that invites us to look for ways to add interest, color and variety to each day as we choose to live a full and balanced life.  

Photo by Danielle Cerullo on Unsplash

Your Spiritual Toolbox

When I’m planning a nice meal, I try for a variety of colors, textures and flavors. I attempt to balance nutrition, protein, carbs, fat and fiber. It’s a particular way of thinking about that meal.

What would it look like if we balanced our days the way we balance our meals, with a variety of activities?

This gives your life interest, adding varied colors, textures and flavors.

Say to yourself - 
"Today I’m going to give myself a balanced variety of activities." 

"Some of my activities today will be comforting and familiar."

"At least one will be a new flavor, maybe something spicy like learning something new."

​"Some will be sweet, social time, and some will be the salt of inner time just for me.”

Varying activities doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming.

• Coffee with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
• Visiting a free exhibit.
• Taking a drive to a new town.
• Exploring a new, more beautiful route to work or the grocery store.
• Taking a class at a community center or on-line.

 All cost little or nothing.

What kind of variety are you offering yourself today?