The Box You’re In
Sheet Metal Worker. Artist. Mom. Dancer. Son. Street sweeper. Accountant. Wife.
Who are you?
No, really? Who are you after you peel off the layers of the socially and culturally sanctioned roles? Who are you when you are not what you do? Who are you when you close your eyes at night, when you take that deep soul-rocking breath, and exhale the day’s stress and grime away?
Do you know?
Are you the person you thought you’d be when you grew up (as if)? Have you managed to realize your dreams? Managed to taste the sweetness that taunts you? That calls to you from the other side of the nine-to-five, pick-up-the-drycleaning, wash-the-car world that you inhabit in your waking hours?
What box have you allowed others, have you, put yourself in? Is it cozy in there?
Did you give up? Did you cast aside your dreams to be realistic? To be pragmatic? Adult? Sensible? To wander through the world in a sort of numbed out super-haze of denial and mediocrity?
Hold up, Cowgirl
You have a choice. You can continue along the path of least interest, or you can break free (no time like the now), leaving the drycleaning and the day job for someone else to look after, as you finally step into the light of your truth. Not your boss’, or your spouse’s, or the mailman’s truth, but yours.
The one truth, the one that speaks in that genuine voice, the voice that whispers to you in the still, dark, quiet. The voice that asks you to consider finally going for the life that only you were designed to live. Doesn’t that sound refreshing?
But, Wait
Don’t be discouraged. Yes, yesterday was the best day to start, but today is the second best day to begin. Step out of the confines of the box. Decide to do different now.
Decide to take a chance.
Decide to say yes to the possibilities.
Decide to live with integrity.
After all, someone, a child, a friend, a lover, may be watching you, learning from you, and you may be the light on the path for their transformation, too.
So, that box? Isn’t it time you broke it down? After all, you only have one life, and it’s waiting, ready when you are.
more inspiration here!
7 Comments for this entry
Sue Ann Gleason
Yes, today, I’ll just be me—beautiful, glorious chocolate-lovin’ me.
Sue Ann Gleason recently posted..A Walk Down Memory Lane
Kimby
Shanna, you don’t know how much I needed to read that just now. I simply must say (without boxing you in), you’re a truly gifted writer.
Kimby recently posted..Waiting For The Rain
shanna
Hooray, Kim! I love when I have good timing 
Thank you for reading and commenting (I appreciate you).
Reese
Shanna lovely post. Very timely. I think I will skip dry cleaning pickup for awhile. 
Reese recently posted..Introducing Hootsuite Conversations
Amy Scott
I love this! So glad you included the reminder that others may be watching and learning from us.
Amy Scott recently posted..Update from Nomadtopia: U.S. Travels 2012
shanna
Thanks for chiming in, Amy! We are so often examples for others and we might not even know it. Here’s to living boldly!
lori b.
Shanna,
I could ponder on each of the questions in the first paragraph for a few hours…
Thanks for this beautifully written post that guides us through reflection.
Cheers!
lori b. recently posted..lori b. is in dress rehearsal.
My Ideal Day « a little lunch, September 21st, 2012 on 1:10 pm
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