Occupy My Life is a grass-roots organization with the intent of me getting my life in some sort of order.  Like Occupy Wall Street, San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia… it’s an organization that has wonderful intentions; it’s just that its purpose is unclear!

I began to think about who was really in charge of my life, who was really pulling the strings, who really controlled the outcome?  I decided it was time to take some control – figure some things out – understand

On an episode of Cake Boss, Joey told his son that life isn’t about doing what you want to do, you do what you have to do to pay the bills.  He told his son to remember that.  I found this sad, that this was what you would pass on to your son as he graduates High School and heads into the world. This poor boys life is over before it even begins.  I mean, why even bother trying if all you ever do it do what you have to do to pay the bills.  Is this where we are now?  Is this what we teach our children?  Don’t even think about doing what you want, just do whatever is necessary to pay the bills.  Lordy, this poor boy.  Doing whatever you have to do to pay the bills might be Joey’s truth – but – it doesn’t have to be his sons.  Although now – his son may believe that this is his lot in life.  We need to be careful with our words.  What we say – how we say it. 

I understand that there are bills to be paid, but life shouldn’t be just about paying the bills.  Life shouldn’t be lived around working and working and working.  Do we even know how to have fun anymore?  Everyone is angry and tired and stressed and so self-absorbed with their heads in the screens of their phones or their laptops or whatever other device they have, that their real life is just passing them by.

I’ve discovered that when I try to control everything and everyone around me, I am actually in control of absolutely nothing!  I spent so much of my time and energy in making sure everything is as it should be that everything usually just fell apart, so, I actually went on vacation this year without every day, every hour being planned.  It was a little scary for me, but, I had the best vacation I have ever had, I relaxed and had fun.  I was in the moment, and I didn’t care that there wasn’t a plan.  There were the most amazing fish and chips in London, and the singing of the Mary Poppins "Feed the Birds" song on the steps of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. There was the best pastry I have ever had in Paris, and a leisurely stroll by the Eiffel Tower, and the most beautiful view I have ever seen from a bridge overlooking the River Seine.  There was the beauty and mystery of Stonehenge, and the thought of what once was.  It was my life at its best. Unplanned, unscripted, simply being there, being in that moment.  I came home determined to Occupy My Life – and begin to actually live. 

We have become a people who believe that the world revolves around us.  It’s me, me, and me.  We believe that our opinions are the only ones that matter, the only ones that are right, and we force them down the throats of anyone and everyone. The thing is – our opinions are simply that – our opinions.  It’s our truth and our truths have absolutely nothing to do with the people we try to force-feed them to.  It’s the same when others try to tell you what they believe is right.  Nothing anyone says about you is really about you.  It’s about the person saying it to you. It’s their belief system, it’s their truth – don’t take it personally.

That is one of the goals of Occupy My Life –Don’t Take it Personally.  Everyone has their own baggage to unpack.  Stick with your own bags – don’t take on anyone else’s. Like my Dad used to tell me before we would go on a trip - “What you take, is what you carry!”

Occupy My Life is a quiet little movement with its goals and purpose slowly taking root.  The good thing is – I don’t have it planned out – I’m taking it a day at a time – that’s progress! 

~ Peace ~