"The fact is, you don't get in life what you wish for. You get in life what you go for.People choose their lives.
People choose their actions.
People choose their outcomes.
Life is a cause set in motion.
And life is not over until you quit." (20)
If you put off what you want to do with your life for decades, with the idea that you'll enjoy your life after you retire, you will ultimately miss your life. The happiest retirees are people who have lived full and meaningful lives. The only thing that changes for them when they reach retirement age is that they are able to start tapping their retirement funds without being penalized and they bid adios to their regular jobs. Otherwise, they simply continue doing what they have always done- leading full and meaningful lives. (284)
"When was the last time you experienced JOY?"(286)
"What makes you happy?
-be honest. Think about all areas of your life.
What makes you happy at work?
What makes you happy at home?
What makes you happy with your friends and family?
What makes you happy when you are by yourself?
What do you love to do?
What would you do with your life today if you were not afraid of failure?
What is not working in your life?
What are you currently doing that prevents you from experiencing joy?
What is working in your life?
Who is not working in your life? Often there are people in our lives who don't add value. In fact, they subtract from our life's joy. Be honest.
Who right now in your life is subtracting value from your life and adding misery to it?
Can you fix any of these relationships or should you let them go out of your life?
What relationships are working in your life? Just as there are people who don't work in our lives, there are people in our lives who do. They bring value and joy to you. The clearer you are about why these people bring joy into your life, the easier it will be to appreciate and enjoy your relationships with them- and attract more people like them into your life.
If we were getting together one year from today, what would have to happen for you to be able to tell me that you now have more joy in your life?
What is the single most important thing you've learned about yourself as a result of answering these questions?(289)
Thank you David Bach, for helping me realize the tough questions.
P.S. These are all photos we took while we were on our drive South and back. Except for Ashke, that was when we were at home. Please note his tongue sticking out, and making a drool pile, while sleeping with his butt on his bed.
