Stop Existing and Start Living

Hey there!

Hope you've been enjoying the start to this new year. Can you believe another year has come and gone just like that?

I don't know about you, but it'll take me a solid month or two to not mess up the date every time I write it (just realized I messed it up as I was writing this email... whoops).

As this past year came to an end, I did something I never really had before.

I reflected on the year.

My accomplishments and my struggles.

My wins and my losses.

Everything I'm proud of and everything I could improve.

And when I say everything... I mean eeeeeverythinggg.

Especially the things I want to do more of this year and in the future.

The things that make me feel most alive.

And you know, that really got me thinking.

A few weeks ago, my family and I went on a trip to Disneyland (super fun way to celebrate the holiday season if you ask me!).

But after three days filled with some of the most fun rides I've ever been on, I was stumped. I needed to get to the bottom of something.

What was it?

Well you see, we rode the Incredi-Coaster at least ten times during our visit – an incredibly fast, turning, dropping, upside-downing rollercoaster.

And during all ten of those times, I found myself smiling cheek to cheek. Filled with excitement. Wanting to laugh and scream and yell the entire time.

Dude, that's a natural reaction. Everybody feels that way when they ride a rollercoaster.

Yeah, but that's just the thing.

I couldn't figure out why that's our natural reaction.

So I did what I always do when I'm trying to figure something out...

I thought about it for a while.

And after a few weeks of "sleeping on it," I think I finally came to a conclusion.

As humans, we love a sense of adventure.

Acting spontaneously. Chasing thrills. Getting our adrenaline pumping.

Living in the moment.

It's what we're built from. It's in our blood.

And that's exactly why I love amusement parks and rollercoasters so much.

They bring out those qualities we're all seeking.

Whether you realize it or not, we all long for that adventure. That thrill and adrenaline rush. That feeling that gets your blood pumping and makes you feel alive.

When you switch from just a random individual existing through life to a person who takes the reins and grabs life by the throat.

And you see, that's just the thing.

Far too many people are simply existing and not actually living.

They go on vacation, a road trip, a spontaneous adventure and feel alive in the moment.

And then reality hits them. The realization strikes that they can't do this forever. That they have to go back to their dead end job on Monday morning and wait for the next opportunity to come knocking on their door.

Most people sit there waiting for life to happen. But what they don't realize is that life is happening as they watch through their window.

It's passing you by each moment you wait on the sidelines.

Now, I'm not saying you should quit your job or live a life of only adventure.

You need a healthy balance.

But what I am saying is you need to find the things that make you feel most alive. The things you could do for the rest of your life and never get bored. The things that would make you happiest and most excited to wake up to a new day.

The things that make you feel most like yourself.

Because we're all seeking that adventure. Those thrills. Those feelings of euphoria.

These truly are the feelings, the emotions, and the catalysts that change the world.

So don't ask what the world needs. Instead, ask what makes you feel most alive. Because what the world really needs is people who feel more alive.

Stop existing and start living.

Never stop dreaming,

Connor