More Than Fine

I was recently struck by a quote from Adam Levine.  I was reading an article asking a bunch of famous men what they were most afraid of.  The majority of men answered as you would expect, that they were most afraid of heights, snakes, drowning etc.; but, Adam Levine’s response was surprising.  Mr. Levine responded that he was most afraid of dying because his life was sooo GOOD (I’m paraphrasing.)  After I read his comment, I felt a pit in my stomach; I wondered if I could really say the same thing about my own life.  I spent the next few days noticing how many moments I wished I was somewhere else, doing something else.  I noticed how often I looked at the clock wanting the day to be over or how often I rushed through my errands because I just wanted them done.  I saw myself going through the motions.  Having happy moments, yes, but not feeling the level of excitement, enthusiasm or passion about my own life that permeated Adam Levine’s statement.  As simple as his statement was, it opened me up to larger possibilities for my life.  It erased the line between “us” (normal everyday people) and “them” (the rich and famous we see on t.v.).  For once, I truly believed that “Adam Levine Good” was obtainable and that if he deserved that big life, then why didn’t I?  

I think we all are surrounded with “fine” and come to believe that “fine” is the standard for life.  We have a job we don’t hate, we pay our bills, have a nice house and maintain our families; but, what if we allowed ourselves to want more than just “fine?” What if we allowed ourselves to want more out of life than “going through the motions” and waiting for the next big thing to inject happiness and enthusiasm into our life?  What if we confessed to ourselves that we wanted to be happier and admitted that we knew we could be?  What if we dared to disclose our dreams and wishes and then go after them?  What if we refused to settle for “fine” and chose to go after the life Adam Levine seems to describe in his simple statement?  

 

Over the last 13 years with my husband, he has repeatedly mentioned his love of acting remembering his riveting college performance of a lisping Spaniard.  When he relayed this story, there always seemed a longing, a wishing…. a missing.  Each time he brought up his performance, I ignored the underlying emotions and simply nodded my head at the appropriate times.  I never once gave his story any real credence.  Acting, really?  People like “us” don’t act.  We work hard, we have good jobs, houses and families… we are “fine.”  But, this Christmas I gave him a gift card for acting lessons.  Who knows where it will lead or what will happen; but at least he finally acted on that inner longing and dared to have a life greater than “fine.” 

 

So, my goal this New Year is to inject more “Adam Levine GOOD” into my life. I’m refusing to settle for “fine” and am going after a bigger, richer and more fulfilling life (and not feel guilty about it).  Beginning in 2015, I am going to carve out the time to start building my own “Adam Levine GOOD” life.  Join me!