Ryan and James

Be grateful for what we once wanted. 

Allow struggles to be our teachers.

Life gives us lessons, wisdom gives us possibilities.

I admire James Clear and Ryan Holiday and enjoyed listening to their conversation.

Ryan was interviewing James, and a couple of lines resonated and stuck with me.

The first line was when James mentioned that he was a striver.

He said strivers often forget to celebrate and appreciate their successes because they’re constantly on to the next challenge.

For this reason, he makes an effort to pause and remind himself to be grateful for the things he once wanted and worked so hard to attain in his life.

This line resonates because it is so easy in our own lives.

In our striving, we lose sight of how much we once longed for and waited for and now take for granted. 

A driver’s license, a job, a high school or college degree, a significant other, a place to live, toys and hobbies, and good friends.

If we pause to look around, we find countless relationships, experiences, and possessions that deserve deep gratitude.

Another line came when James talked about his book, thinking of how long it took him to write it.

They both paused, then at the same time, James said, “a couple of years” as Ryan said, “your entire life.”

I LOVE that!

Because both of those lines are so true. 

It takes a lifetime of experiences and learning to build a life story.

But to write it takes a short, disciplined season of sitting down, reflecting, connecting, and putting the story into words.

That is what I’m doing now. 

Trying to find the words to wrap around this life experience.

These lives of ours are filled with struggles, lessons, and possibilities.

It is good to reflect on these thoughts with gratitude as we write our stories moment to moment and day after day. 

Thank you for the reminder, Ryan and James.

Photo by Ryan Graybill on Unsplash