Don’t you love it when someone asks a question that makes you think about what’s REALLY important in life? 

Tonight I was hanging out on Facebook, when the lovely Nat from Make It Look Easy posted a really excellent message on her page.

When I read something great, I immediately want to share it, which is why I messaged Nat to ask her if I could share her post and question, (and my answer) with you. Nat being Nat, she immediately said yes. Thank you Nat xx

Here’s her post:

 

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” – Winston Churchill 

There is a very fine line between just surviving week to week on what we work so darn hard to earn, and giving some of that away knowing that your family will miss out due to your generosity to others.

It really is so hard to hand out dollars knowing how hard you worked for each and every one those. So let’s make it a little bit easier on ourselves and start giving our time instead (just to warm us up). 

There is this really funny thing that happens in our Universe – the more you give – the more you get. I am so serious here. But I am also serious in saying that not everyone has a spare dollar or even 50 cents to give. Keep your money – you need it, your family needs it (believe me, I know as I was there for quite a few years (six in total) myself). 

Your time however – please give it freely and you will seriously be blown away by how many people make sure that they give it right back to you in return. And their time equals your extended learning. 

The more people you listen to, the more you can condense what you really need to know and from that you can build your future. 

Education is not always found in books (although I am a huge book addict myself) – true knowledge is formed by listening to those who have done it, failed and then achieved their goal in the end.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” – Winston Churchill.

What could you teach me and all of us in one sentence right now (without actually charging us for your insight) that you stand behind, use daily or wish everyone knew? 

Again “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” – Winston Churchill

Nat xo

There are a few things you need to know about Nat, if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her or following her awesome community on Facebook – she’s an incredibly sincere, friendly, inclusive soul, she’s a super talented stylist, of wardrobes and homes, she usually has a wicked twinkle in her eye, and she is 100% about empowering and encouraging people. And she bloody rocks at it, because she’s living from her passions, and it shows in everything she does. Nat is generous, feisty, imperfect, boisterous and has such a sweet spirit. Nat is someone worth knowing. 

I love questions like Nat’s. They make you stop and consider what you know for sure, and what is worth passing on. 

So: What can I teach people, that I stand behind, use daily or wish everyone knew? 

After feeling like answering in just one sentence was impossible, I wrote: 

It is absolutely possible to truly like, befriend, fight for and CELEBRATE yourself – even if right now, your soul feels fatally wounded or flawed. (There’s no six week program, sorry about that. And it may not happen in that order.)

I couldn’t actually manage to only write one sentence! (Have we met?!)

And hey, I have a blog so I decided to share my answer it with you, in an unlimited number of sentences. 

Why? 

Because like I told Nat tonight, this is the most important ongoing lesson of my life. 

I believe with my whole heart that you (and I) can learn to like, befriend, fight for and celebrate ourselves, EVEN IF we feel irreparably broken on the inside. 

It won’t happen after we lose 5 or 15 (or 50) kilos, not once we find our perfect match, not after we get that promotion, but only when we are willing, in fear and trepidation, with sweaty palms and a thumping heart, to begin the work of questioning the unspeakable things we tell ourselves, or have been told about ourselves by others. 

It’s not a quick or easy process. Anyone who tries to tell you it can be is a despicable snake oil salesman. 

You may start, and then falter, for years… I did. 

You may gain a secure foothold in one area, and have another fault line split open right under your other foot. 

You’ll face obstacles and opposition, I can practically guarantee that. 

But the rewards…. oh, the rewards are impossible to enumerate in one blog post, but they will be worth it in ways you can’t yet imagine. I promise you. 

You might be thinking, “easier said than done, Annette” or “if only you knew…” and to the first thought, I agree, it IS easier to say than to do. 

BUT it is not impossible. 

I have done it, I am still doing it, I’ll probably be doing this inner life work until there’s no life left in me.  

And do you know what I discovered? 

Not everything that has been playing on an incessant, soul destroying loop in your head and heart is true. 

Can you hold that thought for a moment? 

Not everything that has been playing on an incessant, soul destroying loop in your head and heart is true. 

 

———

 

I’ve been reflecting a lot on what life has taught me as I approach my 48th birthday. I’ve written about that before, and I’m sure I will write about it again, long after 48 comes and goes. 

That’s not a new area of rumination for me, and Nat has been encouraging me to work out how I can give what I know to others. The how is illusive, but I know what the guts of it is. I’m sure of that. 

I’m so glad to be reminded tonight that we all have something to teach each other. 

I think it is important for each of us to accept that responsibility and challenge. 

Now I’m going to ask you to consider Nat’s question: 

What can you teach people, that you stand behind, use daily or wish everyone knew? 

(I’ll even let you use two or three sentences, but if you dig down to the “root of the root” you’ll find the words you need.)

Let me (& Nat) know what it is that you have to teach us. You can do that here in the comments section, or hit us up on Facebook. Nat’s Make It Look Easy FB page is here, and the I Give You The Verbs FB page is here. 

Gratefully, 

Annette x 

 

Here’s Nat. Isn’t she a babe?