You know, I love life!

Truth be told I was dragged to the first meeting, it is so not my thing, but then I enjoyed the company and I had such a good time, that I now join the gatherings frequently.

In a part of town called German Village, we have get-togethers where Americans, Germans, and Austrians meet to enjoy German food, speak the language, and make new friends, or meet old ones they haven’t seen in a while.

A great opportunity for students to practice talking in the language they are trying to learn, and a nice opportunity for people like me to help the ones who are brave enough to try.

It’s always a great afternoon, spent with strangers you normally would never meet. Two weeks ago, after a few wine spritzers and beers we were all in a good mood, and then an old German song came on, a hit from the 70s. I remember my Grandmother humming it when it played on the radio. Back then I thought the song was cheesy.

Now 45 years later, in a restaurant in America we all started humming the melody and in the middle of the song, when the chorus sings “YOU KNOW I LOVE LIFE” all of us old enough to remember the music, joined in. By the end of the piece many were standing and dancing, I was one of them.

I might not remember what I did yesterday, but these old lyrics came back to me in no time.

It is a typical song from the mid-70s, a German hit (Schlager) talking about heartbreak but at the same time full of joie de vivre, the enjoyment of life.

Fulfilled

I experienced a weekend with touching moments and deep conversations. My heart is filled and a few minutes ago, when searching for the video, I sang this song from the bottom of my heart -again. No, don’t worry about me, you know I love life. Right now life couldn’t be better, even though not all is perfect.

The here and now

While my heart is full, my head can’t grasp it. When I wrote the sentence, “Right now life couldn’t be better”, my head spoke up immediately. “Well, that’s not quite true. It could be better.” My head can’t always comprehend the fullness of my heart. My head wants to check, organize, and plan ahead but that’s not where my joy lies. The love for life happens in the present moment -only.

Grab it

This magic of the moment is not to be missed. There are always situations in my life when everything seems perfect and when nothing needs to be added. When everything is fine as it is. So often unpredictable moments and situations.

I can’t plan them, they just happen and all I can do is enjoy them to the fullest. The love for my life can only happen if my heart is open and I allow myself to step into this feeling of happiness and contentment with all there is. Worries and doubts have a break from broadcasting. This moment is all that matters.

Believe me, I love life!

Do you love your life?

During a meditation event, this was once a question with which the evening began. At the time, I didn’t love my life at all, and invisible tears ran down my cheek because my life seemed dark and the realization made me sad. Wondering about my negative feelings was like a wake-up call and a reminder to give more space to what fills my heart with joy. I realized that I had lost myself a little.

Let the longing grow

It happens now and then that I lose contact with myself, and when it occurs my life seems empty and I feel like the weight of the world rests on my shoulders. I don’t like this feeling of negativity, it’s almost like I am asking to be depressed. It’s weighing me down and it drains me. It’s not me. It’s not who I want to be.

And then, inside me, the desire for a fulfilled life comes back. I feel that something is missing and this longing is my beacon and my renewed inner orientation toward the qualities I want to have in my life.

Riding the wave

When, as today, this wave of connection with myself and love for my life rolls in, then I take it. I nourish this feeling in my heart and let it grow big. Yes, I love my life! Now, at this moment, everything is fine. It couldn’t be better. And I sing in a loud voice “You know, I love life”.

A wake-up call

If, while reading, you may be filled with sadness or melancholy because you are not living your life right now, then be sure that hand in hand with your sadness, there is the longing for joy. The longing for an authentic life. A life that is real for you, that fulfills you.

We all have to live through hard times. We have losses and fears, dreams get crushed and many of us deal with health issues. Sorrow is part of life.

But when the sadness lingers, that’s your wake-up call. It’s your life! Design it in such a way that moments full of love for your life can happen. Make your longing your guide. Your heart knows the way. Allow yourself to love your life.

Perfect lives don’t exist

The world is full of people trying to be perfect. Perfect people, perfect families, perfect children, perfect body, perfect job. Lots of perfection in our minds.

However, in my opinion, what this world needs much more are people who are unique. The world needs sideways thinkers, visionaries, and people with creative ideas and the courage to implement them. Be one of them! Don’t try to be another perfect follower, but go your own way and learn that perfection does not exist.

Life is colorful, wild, diverse, unpredictable, and unique –but never perfect. Life has a lot to offer and it will never be completely perfect. And that’s a good thing.