YOUR LIFE IN A BOOK

As I scroll through my Facebook feed, I can’t help but marvel at the amazing lives my friends live. I’m sure you’ve seen the photos of happy faces peering back at you as they climb the Great Pyramids, dive in the Caribbean, horseback ride on a beach in a faraway country or shake hands with a prominent figure. Like me, you must wonder, what would my life look like in a book? Would my story read as the next best memoir or would the tales of my life lull someone to sleep with its boredom?

Recently I visited a friend who showed me her world map of places she and her spouse have traveled. I was captivated by the idea that life could be planned around a world map. The couple began by using the alphabet to determine where they would travel in the world. What is so special about it is they planned out a life that would be unique because they wanted to step out of their comfort zones and see and experience the world around them. They did not settle on being satisfied with ordinary life experiences. They challenged themselves to find places to visit that were steeped in history, that exposed new foods and cultures, and they have found hidden gems along the way. Their story is still being written, literally, in a blog about their travels. (checkout her blog, The World From A-Z) The blog entries could certainly be a collection bound in a book, and I’m certain would find its way into many reader’s hands. But I ask myself, could my life look like this? Does it look like this?

Then I look at a friend’s post today on Facebook and I realize that I haven’t even begun to experience half the life of this individual. I smile down at her in photos and think, gosh, I wish she would write a book. But she won’t, because quite frankly, she’s too  busy living life to the fullest to stop and write about it. But I can tell you that her life in a Coffee Table Book would be incredible! She has lived in China, Egypt, Haiti, Korea, and Mongolia, just to name a few humble abodes. She has circled the world a few times, and with each new adventure, I get a greater glimpse of this amazing woman. Her photos capture everyday life on the streets of Cairo, New York City and Beijing. And yet, it’s her life that her friends are watching daily, admiring her willingness to hike treacherous trails, fly above the world in a hot air balloon and eat foods disgusting to the Western world, that draw us closer to her. Yes, her life captured in photos would be a must see for sure.

You’re probably thinking about your life right now and wondering what it would look like if I were describing you.  Would  I share the excitement on your face as you hold your grandchildren or  bake your award winning carrot cake? Would I share your adventures at sea with your new boat, wind blowing through your hair with your wife and children laughing in the background? Perhaps I would chronicle your adventures on your motorcycle or share your exhaustive library of books that you have been collecting for the past twenty years. Better yet, if I were writing your life story, just maybe I’d write about your character, your selflessness, your laughter, your charity, integrity, your kindness. Because, isn’t your character the greatest thing about you?

I’m sure I have a story in me about my life, but to be honest, I’m happy trying to live the best life I can. I want to travel like my friends, enjoy family , and discover new foods and cultures that make up this world of ours. I want to help others, inspire others and make the world a better place. And maybe after I have run out of things to do, including finding myself and my inner being, like my friend Ruth encourages us all to do, I will find that I have a life worthy of a book, a book that even you would find interesting. So I ask you, do you have a life worthy of a book, or are you on a journey like me, writing the story as we go? I’d venture to say, your story is much more interesting than you know, and I can’t wait to hear all about it one day!