Let's Call it Our Little Secret

By jen gaines on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 00:17

I have a secret, and I am willing to spill the beans.

Are you ready? Are you sure?

There is a very special Club out there that you can join. I think I am a part of it now.** It is a small club, with few members. There are no annual membership fee’s, and anyone is free to join. There is no president. No secretary. No janitor. There is no manual or guidebook for new members. There is (somewhat unfortunately) no secret handshake. There are no weekly or annual meetings.

So just what, you may be asking, is this club all about? Why would anyone want to join? What on earth is in it for you?

Well, I’ll tell you….

Freedom. That’s what is in it for you.

No more days waking up and dreading the day ahead. No more pretending to be busy, when your work is already done. No more wondering, “is this it?”

“But I AM happy,” you think. If that is true, then good for you! You have already accomplished what most people set out to do but never actually achieve.

“But I CAN’T quit my job,” you think. I once thought the same way too. But that was before I joined the club and realized that I could.

“But I am scared,” you secretly think, not wanting anyone to know. I understand. Change is a scary thing. But there are two choices really. You can keep on plugging away, much like you are doing now, with no guarantee of change. Or you can roll the dice, change your ways, and hope for the best. Most likely, you will not regret it.

Now, this doesn’t mean that I think everyone should quit their job and take off on a worldwide adventure. These drastic measures are not always necessary. The point is, we live in a society that makes us feel trapped. We grow up, go to school, get a job, get married, and have a family. That is how it is supposed to work, right?

Sometimes we forget that our lives are so precious, so individual, that it does not always have to be like that. We do have the freedom to make our own choices and live outside those boundaries. Even though it sounds odd at first, we can choose to be happy, and not be confined to doing “the right thing.” The right thing, I have realized, is just not always right for everyone.

So take those steps, and find your freedom! There is usually a way! A shit-load of money isn’t everything. Buying a home isn’t everything. Having the newest flatscreen TV, or brand new car definitely isn’t everything. Having everything is having friends and family that love you. You have to search out the rest.

So, welcome to The Club, you are now a lifelong member! I hope you enjoy your membership benefits, I know I certainly have!

Oh, and if you come up with a secret handshake, please do, only share it with members!

** The photo for this post is an old one from my trip to Egypt back in 2010. It is a photo that means a lot to me, as it was on this day that I decided to join The Club.

Comments

kosmichumor's picture

kosmichumor - Sun, 04/15/2012 - 05:57

Oscar Wilde was quoted as saying "Everything popular is wrong." That may or may not be true depending on one's point of view.
It would seem less relevant to a person who uses their will to move the current of their life in any direction they choose, despite what anyone else in so called "consensus reality" has to say.
By finding ways to achieve dutiful fulfillment on your own terms and sculpting the kind of lifestyle you want to live, personal freedom and liberation abound.
It is a courage found in leaders and innovators everywhere throughout time. To create the tune of one's life rather than dance to a faceless others'.
I will see you out in the world soon, because I understand the value of "The Club". I am currently working on a new secret handshake, of course, there will be no obligation to use it.

jen gaines's picture

jen gaines - Sun, 04/15/2012 - 19:42

Thank you, V! Its a concept I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of. All I can say here is that I am so pleased that you are coming along for the ride, and I can't wait for our adventures in Turkey!