Word of the Day: VICARIOUS
experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another
If you are reading this and you are living vicariously, STOP IT!
Every time I read this word, I’ve think about all of the opportunities that we have in life to live fully. I know how much I’ve been blessed to have been born in the United States of America. I do not ever take that for granted. A land where opportunity is at every turn. Experiences are ours for the taking. All we have to do is get up and do it!
That ‘getting up’ part can be difficult for so many people. It takes courage and as my mom used to say, it takes chutzpah. Nerve, fearlessness.
I hear all the times from the mouths of well-meaning people, “I wish I could have the life that she/he has. They have all the luck. I’ll just live vicariously through their experiences.” Well, to that I say, bull! I’ve seen the same individuals have the same opportunity, and one jumped, the other didn’t. It’s that simple. We all need to learn to jump a little higher. Take some risks, get off the couch, pick up the pen, record that song, start that business, ask for that person’s hand in marriage, book that vacation, call that publisher, etc., etc. Fill in your own blank.
I’m not pointing fingers without 3 more pointing right back at me. Oh, I get it. It’s not easy. It takes us out of our comfort zone. There is action required. And then we need to overcome the ‘first step’ fear that is inside of all of us. All throughout our lives we’ve had it. When we were learning to walk, riding that bike without training wheels the first time, asking that special someone on a date, standing up in front of a crowd of people and speaking. We all have a bit of ptsd from the moments before we jumped — it’s not comfortable. But once we did, it took us to those amazing experiences and they became second nature. Filled us with pleasure and happiness.
If you are struggling today with a decision, a life-long dream, an unrealized wish, don’t live vicariously. Live fully. You will be so glad you did!
Creatively His, Sue:)
