Are You Enjoying?

Tell me… Are you enjoying yourself?

People will often tell you to enjoy yourself, and live life to the fullest; but, are you really living your life this way? Do you know how to? Do you even know what life means? Well, let me tell you. You are life, yes! You and I.

A Joseph Campbell believes that, "Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question - when you are the answer". Until you understand that you are the very fabric of life, you may not begin to really enjoy yourself, you will not be able to mould your life to suit you. The things that happen around us, are actually ripple effects of the actions of others, that's what makes up life, me you and everyone around.

Many a times, we listen to others opinions on how to “have a good time”; society tells you that it is not until you attend a certain social event, eat a certain food, wear a certain outfit, be with certain people, visit or live in a certain place, that you are not 'enjoying'. I have met people who will tell you that they will enjoy life when they become rich, or that the rich are the only ones enjoying life; but I can tell you that sometimes, the richer you are, the richer your problems.

When you earn a civil servant's salary in a south western state in Nigeria, you cannot have the same problems as Aliko Dangote; you don't have to worry about no longer being the richest man in Nigeria, you don't have to worry about lawsuits worth millions of naira, and issues that come with being in that position of wealth.

Do you know that you can have ten naira and enjoy life more than someone with a hundred naira? You’re wondering how, right? Well, It's all in the mindset is how - because being rich is a state of mind. You have to allow yourself to “enjoy”, you just have to find that comfort place, that thing you love doing, the thing that gives you joy at all times, the right set of people, the right environment.

And sometimes, you just need to be by yourself to tune out what the world is saying, and listen to yourself. You need to be by yourself to appreciate how beautiful you are, because no one will do it better than you can. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the world, we all need a place to quiet down and think.

You can only enjoy yourself, if you allow yourself to enjoy, because you can 'have it all’ and yet not have peace of mind, or anybody to share it with. Just understand that life is just a bowl of cherries. Yes, there are times when we paint ourselves into a corner, and we have to bite the bullet; it’s can be inevitable, but I have learnt that today's misery could become tomorrow's story. Sometimes we just have to be a law unto ourselves and let other voices drown. Our definitions of enjoyment differ, so don't let anyone berate you for not living or enjoying like them.

Also, don't give anyone a free ride in your head, they are living their own lives, doing their own things and most probably enjoying themselves, while you are not. The need to forgive is also imperative to enjoyment. Forgive, let go, don't hold grudges, don't dwell on the anger or the past. It’s just one life, live it - because it’s yours. Don't let anyone, or anything rain on your parade.

Most of all, set standards for yourself. Make something good out of your time, so that when you want to lay back and relax you, can do so without regrets. Do the right and necessary things when they’re due. It's a sacrifice for the future. If you feel that you’ve ruined things, or that you have many regrets, just pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you will be fine as long as you are alive.

Be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Enjoy yourself!

You are the answer to life!!

By Mary Idowu

-----

Did you like this article? Check out great other like...

1. The Meaning Of Life

2. I, Difference

3. Power!