Living Big Anytime
Last night, the first time in a very long period the sun was out, and the weather was hot. I thought this would be great to have friends over and be outdoors. When I called, the friends were not home. So I said to my adult son, “lets make this an event for us.” We went out and picked up some of our favourite foods, had the windows down, roof off, played upbeat summer songs, singing loudly on and off key. We then went to a movie store and chose a foreign film for later in the evening. The intention was to make us feel like we were going on a journey to another land. Just as we were returning home, our friends called and said they were available for dinner. We picked up more groceries, and returned home.
Once home, I put on happy go lucky music, prepared the food, and my son set the patio table down by the ocean. Wah La! Food we had picked up from the restaurant was put on a a warmer and I prepared the rest, we were off to the races.
My son and I then sat down by the water and together we shared our joy breathing in all the beauty the Natural World offers us. It made everything feel all right. Our friends arrived, we embraced, laughed, and told stories. We spoke of times past, travels, and dreams for tomorrow. As the evening grew, it became dark and cool. We entered the indoors. We ended the evening visit with tea and dessert. As everyone was feeling it is time to say, “Good-night”, I asked my son to play the delightful song “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Well, this of course caused us to all jump up and freely sing and dance! A fantastic ending to a wonderful evening.
I recall when I was a student and I lived in a small apartment in Winnipeg. In the dead of cold winters, I would create picnics in my living room with summer music and lemonade. My friends and I would laugh as they discovered plastic ants on the table cloth. Other times, I would also have theme meals, and the music and food would take us to another land. Our happy imagination can make our lives very pleasurable when we choose.
It does not matter where we live, or what our budget is, it just takes a little imagination to turn an ordinary evening into much fun and play. This is Living Big. Both men and women love the art of play and feeling there is a bigger energy in the routine of living. When you are being creative and kind to others, that is when you are Living Big!
Living Big ingredients I use are: intention to have fun, full engagement with who I am with, and responsibility to be kind in a way that is good for everyone.
