Your Best Self

As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.

-Henry David Thoreau, from “Walden”

Thoreau spent two years, two months, and two days in a cabin he built near Walden Pond in Massachusetts, where he submersed himself in nature, and by living in quiet and introspection, he hoped to gain a more objective understanding of life.

And here, we find one of his beautiful reflections on time—very apt at this time of year. As we look behind us and assess 2017 and anticipate what lies ahead, perhaps we can reflect in general on how we spend our time.

Are we killing time? Or are we seizing the day? I think we are only truly content when we are living authentically. But, how do we figure out what that means? It’s different for each one of us, but one thing is definitely true–we won’t get there by “killing time”. We need to live fully, try, risk, question, challenge and experiment. And in the end, connecting to our truest self will keep us from killing time. As Thoreau’s friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson beautifully wrote, “Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something, which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that.”

I wish you joy and courage as you explore life as your best self.

Happy 2018!