Life As I Know It: Life Isn't.....

- Life isn't all rainbows and flowers. Sometimes it storms without a rainbow, there is only a CHANCE at seeing a rainbow after storm, just as life has chances too. Flowers go through stages, just as we do in life and eventually die.

- Life isn't fair. Fair: adj. fair·er, fair·est

1. Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.

a. Light in color, especially blond: fair hair.

b. Of light complexion: fair skin.

3. Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny: fair skies.

4. Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure: one's fair name.

5. Promising; likely: We're in a fair way to succeed.

a. Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial: a fair mediator.

b. Just to all parties; equitable: a compromise that is fair to both factions.

7. Being in accordance with relative merit or significance: She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.

8. Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics: a fair tactic.

9. Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory: gave only a fair performance of the play; in fair health.

10. Superficially true or appealing; specious: Don't trust his fair promises.

11. Lawful to hunt or attack: fair game.

12. Archaic Free of all obstacles.

If you add "life isn't" in front of each statement defining fair, it's true, life is not any of those things! It is not moderately good, it is not just to all parties, it is not impartial, and it is far from promising. It storms in life, it is continuously filled with blemishes, and it is definitely not free from all obstacles. So when someone says life is not fair, it is a true definition, from every angle of the word fair!

- "Life is not a dress rehearsal." We have one opportunity to invent the life that is right for us and to consistently live it. We do not have yesterday to live again, so life is not to be practiced; it is to be lived.

Our life is up to us. A perspective I heard a number of years ago stated that we arrive on the planet "empty and meaningless." That means that we arrive with an unwritten book and it is up to us (and the true value of life) is in the the story we write. Our books are the sum of the choices we make about life - but most importantly it shows that we have a choice. We can choose to be happy or miserable. We can choose to live with people that love us or those that mistreat us. We can choose to focus on health or do unhealthy things to our bodies and minds. We can choose to fill out books with fun, laughter and great times... or not.

Today, see that you have choice. Choose to spend time with people who make life great for you. Choose to live healthy and contribute great value to the world in which you live. Life isn't a dress rehearsal so choose you best life performance today.

- Life isn't about keeping score. It does not matter how much money you have, how many friends you have. It is not a competition.

- Life isn't about how many breaths you take, it is about those moments that take your breath away!

- Life isn't full of expectations. You live the way you live, you love the way you love. There is no guarantee. It is full of disappointment, tragedy and misunderstanding.

- Life isn't about waiting, opportunities come and go and they may not wait for you.

- Life is not about finding yourself. You will never find it because you don't know what your looking for!

- Life isn't simple. It is far from consistent, far from innocent.

- Life is not easy. It isn't supposed to be.

- Life is not always wrapped up perfectly in a package.

Life is about who you love and how you show them.

Life is about being the friend you would want to have.

It is about meaning what you say and how you say it.

It is about making mistakes and learning from it.

Life is about acting on opportunity, being spontaneous.

Life is a gift.

It is about picking up the pieces when someone cannot.