Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Free Spirit

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I've noticed lately that I seem to have a lot of friends who cannot understand me & the way I live my life. That's fine, we're all different, but lately I've felt so much pressure. Questions after questions. Demanding to know when I will have a baby, when my hubby & I will buy a house and where will it be, etc. Sorry to let you all down but I live in the moment. I'm happy that way. If you can't handle it, then that's your problem, I say. You have fun with your 5 year plan & constantly living in the future. I won't settle for less just because that's what society says you're "meant" to do. I'm not saying I don't want some of these things, but I'm sure as hell not going to stress about it right this second and I don't need my friends telling me how I'm "supposed" to live my life. I've never understood why people make life decisions based on what they think they're meant to do at a certain age with complete disregard for what they actually "want" to do. Such a shame really....

Does anyone else feel this pressure from friends, family, society in general?

~ Clare x


12 comments:

  1. Oh Clare. I have always been the "eccentric" one to my friends & family. Most people don't understand my bohemian ways but I am living the most wonderful interesting life. It took me a long time to get to the point where I don't care what people think of me but like Popeye says, "I yam what I yam." Keep doing what you're doing. Better to be authentic than to live a life full of regrets. End of lecture.
    Best, Connie*

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    1. I love Popeye! ;-) Thanks for your advice, Connie. I agree, no regrets!

      C x

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  2. I'm sorry you're getting so much nonsense pressure from your friends–I once dated a boy like that, and it destroyed our relationship. In general I am not a free spirit, so maybe it surprises people when I do something "outside the box"–but what difference should it make to anyone else?

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    1. I agree, Lena, What difference should it make to anyone else? It causes me to think that sadly they aren't secure with their own lives & are perhaps looking for reassurance that what they're doing is right by trying to make the rest of us be the same as them.

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  3. God I know exactly what you mean! Society has so many rules and expectations that we use to bind us and restrict. Some rules are there for order, yet the rest just restrict any free movement. The worst are the people close to you ... So are you having babies? So are you happy with your job? So so so.. Why all the questions

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    1. You're right, Tania. I realised that so many of our friends are living lives they "think" they should be living according to society but I wonder whether they're happy at all? I hope for their sake they are...

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  4. I understand, really. My favorite people are the ones who want for me the life that I want for myself, not the life that *they want for me. When I'm getting too much "input", I recite a passage from Scripture to myself, "In quietness and in confidence will be your strength..".
    Then ignore the rest.

    Wishing you the very best,
    Keri

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    1. Thanks, lovely Keri. I just suddenly felt sad the other day when I realised that so many of mine & my husband's friends actually really don't "get" us whatsoever. Although, you know what? I have a lot of friends that do so I should just focus on keeping them close! C x

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  5. Clare I had this pressure for years but mine was because I was single.. I am hearing you loud and clear on the society timeline! Everyone is an individual but it takes a special person to live life to their terms the way they feel most at ease and happy with and not buckle to the wants of others. Life will roll on and some will live it with stress and frustrations and you will live it in your own sweet time filled with bliss and happiness and under your terms.
    'Who wrote those rules'
    Carla xx

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    1. Perfect, Carla. You always know just the right thing to say! Reading your story in your books & seeing it in your photographs is truly inspiring to me.

      C x

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  6. Don't let anyone pressure you or make you feel guilty. It's your life - never compromise, never make excuses. xo

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    1. Thanks, Debby! You are a truly inspiring woman!
      C x

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Thanks for sharing on Soulful Mama ~ Clare x