Living Without Condition

Sometimes we put stipulations on life. Sometimes we lay our demands and refuse to live unless things go exactly as we think they should. The problem with living this way is you're holding up your whole life. 

You see, whenever you live your life with a handful of future plans, you're never actually living in the present (which means you're letting life happen to you). If your focus isn't on your today, then a whole lot of stuff can come at you without your input. Do you see what I'm saying? If you're busy thinking about what hasn't happened and what you hope will happen, today is being completely neglected, which leaves room for things to happen without your knowing. 

And I'm a firm believer that choices you make today are the steps that get you to that thing your heart so desires; you just have to be listening. And that's the trick! Those voices know if they can get you to believe that you should keep your thoughts in the future (or in the past for that matter) you'll miss all your opportunities in between that would lead you right up to that dream's doorstep. 

I'm trying to take the when out of my vocabulary regarding my relationship with living life. You can start living right now regardless of your circumstances. Don't put conditions on your life. You'll only be stunting what could be right now.  

Choose to love without strings attached. Choose joy without knowing your outcomes. Choose laughter without fear of the impending. Be listening. Be mindful. You're a whole lot closer than you think. Open yourself up to the possibilities of today because the truth is, life might not turn out exactly like you wanted it to, but sometimes that's more than okay. 

x Keely 

Photo Story: A few weeks ago my very best friend drove over from Oregon to visit me in Washington. We went to brunch at this quaint place right on the ocean. There were ducks floating along in the near distance outside of our window. I noticed this one duck dove under to look for his own brunch. Whenever he popped back up, his friends were nowhere to be found. His little head flipped back and forth looking for his friends. I could see where they were; they really weren't too far away. He was frantic at first then slowly settled into where he was; they eventually all found one another again. I like this illustration because we slip away for a second and all of the sudden we can feel like we're impossibly alone (which never tends to be the truth) unable to handle our surroundings. However, the sooner we settle into where we are in this moment the sooner we realize that we really are okay, that we can make it through these little waves just fine. Before long, we also realize that we weren't ever alone to begin with.