I was reading a blog interview about Brenda Wampler last week after which I scrolled through her blog and her etsy shop where my eyes were drawn to this charm necklace that said "Experience Life".
It doesn't say "live life" or "live your best life" as is so often said, it says "experience" life and I couldn't help but think about the difference between simply "living" life and "experiencing" life. How often do we go through the motions, go through the days of routine that we could probably do in our sleep? How often do we stop and "experience" what we are doing, even the most mundane tasks like driving, doing the dishes, preparing a meal? Experiencing life doesn't have to mean going white water rafting, travelling the globe or thrill seeking. It can simply mean experiencing that moment...the smell from peeling an orange, the sound a bird makes early in the morning, the feel of a pet's tongue when it gives you a kiss. And how you feel about those things, how they make you feel.
What a wonderful reminder -- to experience what you are doing every moment, every day.
*Brenda's work is copyrighted and is not to be copied. It is shared here with her permission. To see more of Brenda's work please check her etsy shop and her blog.
9 comments:
I like to think I do (or at least try to) experience the little things life offers – consciously noting what I am touching, tasting, feeling…
I’m certainly not the kind to experience life as a thrill seeker – and I’ve made my peace with that!
Indeed a wonderful reminder. Timely for me too, of course !;-)Today is 13 years since my father died. The greatest gift he gave me was exactly what you are referring to here - he taught me and my two younger sisters to experience life. He shared his own love of nature, music and all the beautiful things in life and made us learn to appreciate it all too. I think that is what living is really - experiencing life.
I am off to live some life, my friend !
Happy Tuesday !
ox ox
Sherry, I am so very glad that my piece inspired you. Your words are wonderful. You write beautifully and this post is so moving. As I age, I try more and more often to capture those tiny moments in life, the simple everyday ones....even doing the chores ocassionally with my husband puts a smile on my face, because each time I do them alone, I remember his humor. We all have so much to be thankful for. I am sitting here watching the beauty of Mother Nature today, and just watching the birds and the squirrels creates a calmness in my life and a smile on my face.
Thank you Sherry for reminding us to just open up and experience.
I think to experience life is the same as living a more concious life, which is what I have been working on forever now :) Living in the moment, enjoying the little things, being aware of what I am doing, and like you said, even mundane things like the laundry, which is more fun for me now because Cooper comes over everytime I am putting clothes in the washer, and if he see's me washing his blankies, he waits for them. He's so cute.
That's why my puppy keeps me so centered, dog's live in the moment, they don't dwell on the past, and they learn and experience everything through "energy" , you know, the universe energy, not physical LOL. Oh, and we thought Cooper was much better but now he is sick again :(
hi sherry,
this is a beautiful post, all the things you described 'experiencing' are usually the things about life that i remember so fondly. i'm not a thrill seeker at all, i adore the smell of a freshly cut orange, or the smell of spring in the air, i love waking up to glorious sunlight, i love how small i feel when i drive through the open countryside, oh and the sound of rain on the window... i could go on forever here!
i love getting lost in the little details, thank you,
emma
x
"Experience" Life - good point, thanks for posting your wonderful thoughts. Sunday I started a book on mindfulness that begins by talking about mindlessness. It starts out with how automated our lives become and how mindlessly we go through the day. I also received an e-newsletter just yesterday on the same topic and giving tips to take a different road home etc. and now your post. Think someone is trying to tell me something :)
You are correct, many of us (me included) do not always experience life. Sometimes it is good for these experiences, I can claim that as fact. Some of the most heart aching experiences have been big wake up calls for me. Thanks for the reminder to slow down and listen!
~xx~
Kathy
Lovely charm! and a lovley sentiment too:>)
it made me think on this one. Today i got my first cup of tea ready - then i checked to see if i had added a sweetner . I couldn`t remember putting it in - so that`s something i did automatically with noticing it !
I do experience more when i`m outside - it`s just the " mundane " home things i`m guilty of !
So i will try and experience my life moment by moment more now.
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