Compare or Create Your Life

Written April 2017

I look at other people doing things they want in life and every single time I stubbornly think, if they can do it... I can do it too.

It's nice when you see people on their right path, doing what they were destined to do. It's like those friends with talents who you wish the world would see how awesome they are, just like you do. There's a warmth in rooting for that friend/family member especially when they don't realise how great they are - and then on the other end of the scale, it's frustrating seeing them not fulfilling the best and most natural part of themselves. People love seeing other people progress. Some may even feel jealous. But whatever outlook, others look to others to feel inspired in some way - whether they realise it or not.

Now more to my point and from where I stand, during my short existence I've felt I've often held back (I wrote this when trapped in my job!) - yes, I can already hear the scoffing at that sentence. And I'm aware this could sound ridiculous to those who've spent a lifetime feeling this way - but that's my point.

The majority of us are victim to societal beliefs of how our lives should be lived. The status quo. We are conditioned to live in fear of paying bills, affording to eat and on getting by...

When I see those people with the lifestyle I want, I look to them for inspiration and a bit of hope. Do I feel envy that I don't have the luxuries and opportunities they have? At times, yes. Yet we all look into other people's lives to somehow ignite, inspire or drive our own dreams. But so many of us keep that dreaming there. It's like we have started to believe we can't believe in ourselves. Thinking we must succumb to a 'normal' lifestyle. But is it really that normal working for a corporate identity that in fact uses your skills to make profit, leaving you with enough to just about get by?

So yes, I'm sick... Of feeling caught up in that, and I know that's definitely the core of many peoples frustrations too.

I guess with Busy Bee I want to prove to myself that I can create the life I want. I just need to stay busy and persistent. I don't care about money, and I don't want to live in fear of money. What really fills me up inside, aside from food, is loving what I do. I can't live off dreaming, my imagination needs to cling to some sort of reality.

And the thing is, this is something that you have heard before, because it resonates in all of us. To whatever degree. We all have somewhere where our mind wonders... A place we go when we carry out our 'duties'. Mine may perhaps be Busy Bee; yours may be making, cooking, building a tree house, travelling...

Within our restrictive set ups, which were set up by others, we have the ability unlike past generations to become our own creators. We have a platform to get things rolling - the Internet.

I'm a dreamer, but I like to think logical with that. So you don't need to drop your immediate lifestyle to follow dreams. You can work your 9-5, dash home and work on what makes you feel alive.

The only pity and what gets me down is that you've lost those 8 hours waiting to be alive. So how do we change that? You put your heart and soul into building foundations, to build a nest, and one day you may be able to fly from it! I don't know how far I'll get, whether the barriers and boundaries of the young adults life in busy expensive London is equivalent to a brick wall, or just appears to be. But I'm willing to try knock it down instead of give in!

The ultimate thing is, how much do you want that and are you willing? Are you comfortable and your values are based upon the small and sweet pursuits of happiness? If comfort is your dream, roll with it. If you're like me, don't roll with it.

All I'm saying is, don't repress your dreams cause it'll only depress you. You won't appear interested or interesting to anyone in a place you don't want to be and can't adjust to.

So just remember, when you're feeling stuck and peeking into the lives of others, you CAN also make your own reality, just like they did. Just takes faith in yourself - and a bit of work of course.

Katie x