Life can be a struggle, can’t it? While some look forward to the next holiday, others are lucky to get through their to-do list just for one day. Everyone is looking for a promised land in one way or another.
The last twelve months presented me with plenty of problems to solve – physically, financially, and emotionally. Even now, with food on the table, clothes on my back, and in relatively good shape, I’ve got a cracked tooth that is making the whole upper right side of my mouth so sensitive, I can’t deal with cold water. And while the bills are paid, and there’s enough in my account to deal with the next round of direct debits as we race through November, I have still not reached the promise land because I’m waiting for an important decision from a publisher.
What Does the Promised Land Look Like For Any of Us?
But let’s say I get that publishing deal. Let’s say I don’t need it because someone rocks up and throws a life-changing amount of money at me. What then? Well, there’s mental, physical and emotional well-being to consider. Spending power’s not much fun if it hurts to move, you feel consumed by anxiety or you’re in a disastrous relationship.
To be clear, I feel sprightly for my fifty-four years on this planet, calm as I type, and my relationship is anything but disastrous – at least not for me. But there are many things within the brackets of mental, physical and emotional health that I would like to improve.
I would like to lose a few more kilograms, reduce my insulin resistance, and get this tooth fixed (£350 for a crown, I’m told – yikes!). My cortisol levels would be lower if my house wasn’t being taken over by my 35-kilo, deaf, reactive, and potentially dangerous olde English bulldogge. Working next to a swimming pool in Thailand or the Bahamas would be wonderful for my blood pressure.
Emotionally, I can’t complain, certainly not where feeling loved and being content with my relationships are concerned, but something will come along. We all know that ‘I’m fine’ are famous last words uttered by those experiencing the calm before the storm. Ask me how I’m feeling next time I’m in a hurry and the roads are congested.
Let’s make things more attractive. As well as the zeroes added to the ‘in the black’ bank balance, we throw in the relationship of your dreams, tip-top mental and physical health, and ensure there’s not a threat in sight. Have we reached the promised land now?
What Are You Going to Do When You Get There?
So, let’s say you’ve reached the pinnacle of contentment. Even better, you don’t get bored for a week. How long will it take for you to want to do something, anything to break the monotony? Can contentment get tedius? Do we start feeling meh about happiness?
Just as the universe appeared with a bang, so do our urges – to run around the streets naked, sing ‘I should be so lucky’ in the style of Crusty the Clown, or groan like the legendary 90 Day Fiancé anti-celebrity, Danielle (I’m giving you glimpses into my insanity here). The alternative is an eternal state of meditation. How many people do you know can do a forty-five-minute sit, let alone days, weeks, months or years. So, if we are not disturbed by desires – to fix things, improve things, titillate ourselves, have fun – what’s left to live for? Nothingness?
Nah, I couldn’t do proper retirement. You can keep your outrageous savings and easy life. I’m not so sure it would be that easy for me.
The Stuff of Life
Is life anything other than a series of scenes in a massive, seemingly never-ending play? Anyone who’s studied Shakespeare will know that one of the things that made is works so special was the action. Every scene was jam-packed with humour, significant events, and spices thrown into the cooking pot.
We might not like the fact that change doesn’t always work in our favour, and sometimes appears to laugh at us, but that’s what happens when you spin the wheel. You win some, you lose some, and the game stops when the wheel stops turning. Not playing is not living. It’s boring. It’s the big sleep. It’s the eternal meditation that only zero point zero zero zero zero (add a few more zeroes) one per cent of the population can cope with.
Choose Life and Be Grateful
Choosing life, therefore, is to choose to spin that wheel and face the consequences. It means experiencing the decay of this flesh body you’re living in – yes, it’s going to happen no matter how many vitamins you take. Your daughter might marry your worst enemy, your business might collapse tomorrow, or Trump could win the presidency (oh no, did that really happen?).
Yes, given all the options, I am delighted to announce a glass of cold water is agony to drink, I can’t afford to retire, and it looks like another day has passed without a decision from the publisher (and I will have to wait until Monday at the earliest to be put out of my misery). These minor inconveniences are not only evidence that I am alive.
They are my life.
Your challenges are what you’re here for.
Fancy Writing About Them?
And they are the stuff of books. I specialise in non-fiction books – memoirs, instructional manuals, discussions, and big ideas. If you’re thinking about writing a book and would like to know more about how a ghostwriter can help you, get in touch.