Are You Living Someone Else’s Life?

July 29, 2014

Maybe, at one time, you were living in the flow of your juicy, beautiful life.

Now, everything feels off.

Rita felt that way. Maybe you have too.

I’m sharing Rita’s story and her wisdom, below:

About 30 years ago, Rita began to feel restless and wanted to expand her knowledge of herself in the world.

She enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Anthropology, and began studying. A few years later, she felt that her life was lacking in adventure and meaning, and at the age of 48, she decided to travel to Mexico, study Spanish and live with a local family.

Her desire for adventure was larger than her willingness to stay comfortable. Safe.

At the time, her husband said that he was not interested in coming along with her. She went to Mexico for 4 adventurous weeks. She was happy and content to be following her dream.

At the end of 4 weeks, her husband said that he needed more time to think about their relationship and their future. He said felt unsure about their relationship now.

Rita spent another 4 weeks in Mexico, and lived with a family there. She learned about the people, the language, and the culture.

She was having the time of her life!

When it was time to come home for the second time, her husband told her that it was time for them to separate.

She was hoping to renegotiate the relationship, not end it.

She wanted to live in the world in a different way. To dig deep and feel free in every way – to really live!

Her husband did not see things that way.

Rita was upset, but not surprised. She was worried about her future, but after a relatively short period of time, she began to get in the groove of living her new life.

She began to love her life again, and she didn’t miss the comfortable, materialistic, inauthentic life that she had in the past. The past was gone and she began to live deeply from her heart.

She began to travel all the world having adventures. She was finally living her own life, in her way, and not, living someone else’s life.

Many years have passed since this story began for Rita, and she is now 77 years young. She is still following her passions and her life is more full and juicy that she couldn’t ever have dreamed of.

Without a lot of money, a house, or many possessions.

I am the happiest person I know, and I’m free, she says.

I create my life every day, and I am so passionate about it!

Rita lives a life beyond her old fears and beliefs about herself. She stepped into her fears about what might happen and rose above them. She was inspired to live her best life and lived the meaningful life she imagined.

Are you ever lonely? I asked.

Never.

She says that she’s never felt so connected to people she meets when she travels. And, she really feels joyful and grateful for these connections.

I have friends all around me, and we care deeply about each other. I’m a writer and I’m devoted to several causes that I believe in.

It’s so important for women to follow their hearts, and find what is meaningful for them – and really live it to the fullest. Even if they fumble or make mistakes.

Your life can be richer than you’ve ever known, but you have to take a risk first and trust that it will all work out for you. It will.

You are capable of so much more than you think.

I surrendered, and went with the flow of my heart and I’m fulfilled.

You’ve only got one chance at living your life, make sure it’s your life that you’re living, and not someone else’s version of what’s right for you. Or what is safe.