Life is short. I’m sure you’ve heard that before, and it sounds cliche, but no matter how many times you hear it, how often do you really sit down to consider just how true it is? It is really, very short.
Think about it for a minute, just a few short years on this spinning blue planet. Many of them we are too young to make our own choices and at the other end, we have limitations to the choices we can make. That leaves us with a chunk of sweet, free, years full of possibilities in between.
So let me ask you. Are you happy with the life you are living? Are you happy with things just as they are and the choices you’ve made? Is there something you wish, deep down in your heart that you had the courage to do? What are you waiting for? What are you going to do about it?
I decided a few years ago, in mid 2009 in fact, that I would never live my life wondering ‘what if?’ and have made a lot of decisions based on that and life is indeed very sweet and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Here are just a few that a lot of people thought were ‘crazy’. I met a man, fell in love instantly and 17 days later we moved from the very South of Australia to the very North. You can imagine the comments and concerns. All of the what ifs came flying from everywhere, said with great love and concern and I understood, but I wanted to live life on my terms. I asked myself, “what is the worst that could happen?” – I decided it was unlikely I would die, which is the initial worst case scenario that comes to mind for most people, so I followed my heart. I mean after all, there were planes and if it didn’t work out, he could simply go home again right?
Four months later we announced to the world we were going to marry and before then we were going to move to Africa for a year. Mixed with the joy and happiness were concerns and again, they were from people who loved me. Except for one, that came from a place that I can only consider jealousy. Her exact words were “Why are you throwing your whole life away for a man?”. What tha? How on earth was I throwing my life away? I’d never felt more alive and how is having love, adventure and freedom throwing my life away in anyone’s world? 
When we came home I decided that I didn’t belong in my previously beloved corporate job, so after 15 years, I left to work in the not for profit sector. That was huge for some people, for me, it was a non negotiable. My heart was no longer there and it was time for a change. After all – what was the worst that could happen?
Next I felt the need to fly, to be free, to do my own thing, so I left the safety of employment to venture into self employment. I mean what was the worst that could happen?
People called me brave, courageous, inspirational and so many other things. No. I wasn’t any of those. I was just living life on MY terms. As it should be.
I continue to live my life this way. Every single day. It’s become the only way I know. If I want to do something, go somewhere, try a new thing – I ask myself two questions.
What is the worst that could happen?
What is the best that could happen?
So I’m throwing down a challenge to you today. Is there something that is calling to you, to your heart and soul, that you’ve been ignoring or squashing down? What is it? No matter how big or small, is there something you can do, can you take one small tiny step or one giant leap towards that dream?
Ask yourself – what is the worst that could happen?
Now go out and do it! You will be happy you did. Take it from someone who knows.
P.S. f you are unsure of what to do next or how to make it happen, please feel free to get in touch with me. I have one space available to take a new coaching client and I’d love to see you short sweet life on YOUR terms. You deserve it!
