May 1 - Start a Summer Journal

HELLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO friends!  Welcome back to SUMMER!!  More importantly welcome back to the Live My Live Project.  I have a month full of GREAT challenges, challenges that I believe are designed to make the most of this summer!  

The summer projects are split into four different themes...

May - Finding Strength

June - Connecting

July - Making a Difference

August - Live, Laugh and Love!

So to start out the May challenges, I would like you to start a journal that you can use to record your progress throughout the months.  The first few challenges will be journal entries, inspired to make you think...build a foundation of sorts for the coming challenges.  Those challenges are listed on the left hand side of this page.  I will continue adding to it throughout the month.

The thing that makes this project so successful is you!  Don't be shy about sharing your thoughts and opinions!  They won't be laughed at, unless that is the purpose of your comment, in which case we will laugh boisterously!

Now back to day one, start a journal!  Write down your goals, what you hope to gain from this project, what you hope to share and then check back in with us tomorrow for the next challenge!

Love,

Ela

July 31 - Live My Life Day

There is something special that happens when one decides that their life is worth living FULLY.  When one decides that their life is more than simply working towards goals or accumulating wealth.  When we decide to truly live, to create lasting memories, to forgive past wrongs, to serve our fellow man, we find joy!

This project has so much more to teach me; YOU all have so much more to teach me.  I have loved all that this project represents.  I still struggle some days to remember what is most important in this life.  I instead let inconsequential things get me down.  But so much less now, than ever before.

So today, celebrate what makes you happy. 

Celebrate your life!  

Celebrate the ones who love you!  

Be content with who you are; quirks and all!

HAPPY LIVE MY LIFE DAY!!!

Love,

Ela

Revisiting the Purpose

Stop!  Now, quietly contemplate your day.  Is it going to be a good day?  Is it going to be a productive day?  Is it going to be a memorable day?

Take all the time you need to think about it.  Read on when you are ready.

Steven D. Woodhull said, "You've got a lot of choices.  If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice."  Break it down to it's most simplest form and it boils down to our choices.  I honestly believe that we are meant to be challenged, that we are tested to our breaking point and given only brief moments of rest before another trial comes our way.  I believe that these trials mold us; that if we face that trial head on, humble ourselves and seek the guidance of the wise, we transform into a stronger version of ourselves.

I don't believe that we get to choose our challenges, I believe that many of the trials we face are out of our control: infertility, death, cancer, accidents, etc.  However, we can choose the way we handle these trials.  It's most definitely easier said than done.  But, what is the point of living life to it's fullest if you can't take full advantage of a learning moment?  Right?

So make the pledge to LIVE!  To face your trial head on and scream in it's face that your life is worth whatever it has to throw at you.  That you choose to learn from it and that you choose to get past it!

*Photography by Wendy Rauw.

A Sign

I was sitting in the Drive-Thru of McDonald's contemplating wether or not to go on a hike and I saw this...

I took it as a sign and went.  On the hike I saw this...

I was so glad that I heeded the sign and chose to LIVE that day!

Live Life Fully

I recently found myself on the couch of a therapist crying about how stressed out I am and how I can't seem to handle my life.  It was a humbling, dark moment that eventually brought about light and understanding.  Somewhere along the road to accomplishing my goals, I lost focus of what really mattered. I had convinced myself that my life was waiting for me to check off items on a to-do list before it could start.  What I didn't realize is that my life was passing me by, it wasn't waiting in the wings to start.  I was missing it!  What shame I felt when I thought back to all the days and hours spent on unimportant matters, stresses and worries.  As a mother to a handsome seven-year-old I felt such guilt in knowing that I am missing this time with him because I am trying to share my focus with so many other things.

A resolve formed...it's time to live my life to it's fullest.  It's time to share my life and experience with my son.  It's time to open his eyes to the possibilities this world has to offer.  It's time to LIVE.  So I'm taking a semester off of school, rearranging my work schedule and promising to LIVE as much as possible.  I sat with my son and came up with some pretty fun activities for the summer months to come.  As we made our list, I thought, "How great would it be to share these ideas with others and see how they choose to live their lives?!"  Thus the invention of this blog.

Everything kicks off Sunday, May 1st as I try to meet a daily challenge.  In order to spend a majority of my time living my life rather than connected to my computer, I will keep my entries brief.  This is where you come in, email me photos from your day and experiences that you have had in living your life.  I will post them to the blog as inspiration to others striving to live their lives fully.  As a Christian living in Utah, I may have challenges that will incorporate God.  I understand that not everyone believes in God or the same God I believe in.  Whatever your faith may be; tailor the challenge to fit your lifestyle.

My hope for this blog is that we find a way to live our lives fully, sharing the inspiring moments that lead us to enlightenment, joy and peace.