DouceLifeAt50.com

We all know that peer pressure or societal pressure is a real thing no matter what age we are.  You only have to look at what is shared on social media platforms.  We pass on information without thinking if our judgement will benefit others, we do not ask ourselves the question: “Am I adding oil to the fire?”.  Are we acting because we feel pressure from the rest of society? Shame and judgement seem to be on the menu these days. The need to conform is great, that is why this year I decided to leave my Christmas lights on my fence until the end of January.  Everyone else seems to take theirs down the second week of January. Not me, my multi color bulbs which are on a timer will light up my dark rural road from 5 pm to midnight and from 5 am to 7:00 am.  My rebellion is done quietly behind the scene.  My personal revolution consists of paying attention to my daily judgements and my shares on Facebook.   I avoid all political discussions as they seem pointless, everybody talks and nobody listens.

I have always been the kind of person who doesn’t like to follow the rest of the herd, if everybody else is doing it, then they don’t need my input.  I don’t care about the latest fads when it comes to fashion, television shows or ice cream flavors.  I do however get influenced by books, they have a way of inspiring me and giving me ideas, they can make me see the possibilities.   The book “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed made me want to learn more about the Pacific Crest Trail, she was brave to do it alone.  I cannot imagine carrying food, clothes and a tent for hundred of miles.  I think that is the reason people choose to walk the El Camino de Santiago which you can do with a daypack.  You can arrange to have the rest of your things meet you at your next stop. Nights can be spent inside four walls instead of a tent.  “Wild” brought back images of all the summers my family and I spent in an old pink stone cabin next to a forest on the side of the mountain. Memories came rushing back of all the games I played in the wood with my sibling, our mushroom gatherings, our runs along the stream, and above all our total freedom to be kids.   The perfection of a night sky covered in stars surrounding us as we laid on our blanket staring up at its vastness as we waited to see a shooting star is forever imprinted in my mind.  That book opened my eyes to the fact that I was spending more time doing things I didn’t truly enjoy then I was doing things that brought me satisfaction.  Cheryl Strayed inspired me to get back to my hobby, that I could do it on my own.  As I voiced out loud my new found goal, a voice answered me that she would love to go hiking with me, that is how I ended up with a hiking buddy.   Say it out loud and you will find a kindred spirit!

“Excuses Be Gone” by Dr. Wayne Dyer made me aware that I was my own stumbling block.  I am now unable not to ask myself this question when I am doubting or unsure of myself, or if I hesitate to take the next step: “What excuse or reason am I using not to do what I need or want to do?”

“The war of art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creativity Battle” by Steven Pressfield taught me that the only way I would be able to write was to let go of the fear of opening myself to others and to myself.   That book made me realize that it was now or never, that the only way to conquer fear was to create my blog, write and post my essays.

When I need a dose of inspiration I read “The Book of Awakening” by Mark Nepo.   For entertainment I read novels.  “The Little Paris Bookshop” by Nina George made me want to read more books, it is the first book where I have found a lot similarities with a character.  “A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail ” by Bill Bryson (the movie is great fun too) and “Where’d you Go, Bernadette” by Maria Semple made me laugh out loud during my trip.  Those are just a few books that have influenced my moods and my thoughts.  They have inspired me and helped me grow. Books bring me pleasure, they provide a continuous education and entertainment, it is a never ending stream of sharing of experiences and stories.  I cannot imagine my life without a book to read or listen to.  I am currently reading “tiny beautiful things, Advice on love and life from Dear Sugar” by Cheryl Strayed and “jump … and your life will appear, an inch-by-inch guide to making a major change” by Nancy Levin.  Next on my list is “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.  I never know what book will present itself to me but it is always the right book at the right time.  I am a willing reader.