a great privilege
“The greatest privilege in life is life itself.”
Eva McGauley: CEO of EvasWish, a platform for young people to become agents of change for causes they are passionate about. Her story sucked me right in. In a really good way.
Her mission should she choose to accept it, “To create a world I feel safe to leave my loved ones in, without me being there to protect them.” Oh me, oh my further down the rabbit hole with Eva I go.
Here’s the kicker.
Eva is 18 and has terminal cancer.
But that’s not the story she wants left behind.
Eva McGauley is a force of nature choosing to join action with passion and create a new conversation around sexual violence. Her story is not about dying. Her story’s about living and how we all choose to live. I couldn’t help but feel opened up and blessed to be in the same world as her.
Most days, trying to understand life and my place in it can be really messy.
Mostly because I get scared of what I see. It’s as simple as that. I get scared of what I haven’t done, what I have done, what I want to do. I consider the time I have left and get hooked into thinking I don't have enough time and whatever I have had has been wasted!
When I start living life out of this fearful space nothing is enough.
I start to control. Look for plans that make me feel comfortable. I recall all the little mistakes that have filled me with frustration, stress, and anxiety.I used to think that if I really had everything under control, there was no room for mistakes. Those feelings still try to grab me as I’m walking out of my house for a vacation. Nowadays, I stop ’em short with, “Passport, credit card, cha-ching! That’s all I need!”
What I've learned is that life has it’s own plan for me. And I've come to find out that it has a quirky sense of humor. Life is constantly trying to show me the way. What I need to learn. And if I don't learn it the first go around, it shows up further down the line.
So what's the shortcut to get from spinning out of control and like Eva, seeing life as a place of privilege and abundance?
Here are 3 of the strongest lessons I can pass on.
1. Let It Be
Nothin' like a Beatle to give us wisdom. These 3 words remind you to accept. There’s good and there’s bad. That’s reality. Don’t sweep either under the rug.
If you're willing to go all out seeing the bad, then at least be willing to go all in and see the good.
Not everything is in your control. Ask yourself what is and what isn’t? Then let what isn’t go. Trust in someone or something else. Having all the answers isn't our job. Stop thinking you should and roll with the punches.
2. A Perfect Life Doesn’t Exist, But A Life That Is Perfect For You Does
I'm gonna' lay it on the line Sunshine. Perfection doesn’t exist. But something can be perfect for you. Like your perfect baby that isn’t so perfect to everyone else. Or those perfect shoes that exactly match your dress. Or that moment when he looks at you across a crowded room. Whoa, I digress!
These were perfect because you called them perfect. Love it and list it into your repertoire.
This may be hard to hear, but the reality you're living in, is the one that you've created. The power lies with you to have what you want, do what you want, be what you want. Everything is not happening to you, but for you. It’s in your hands, and you're no victim baby!
So ask yourself, “How am I really showin’ up to this world? Do I like that?” If not. Change it. Your perfect for you life, is waiting.
3. Say YES to life.
Life is life. It’s the only thing that allows you to dream, love, inspire, laugh, cry, grow, learn. Now is the only time to enjoy it and use it. Harness what has shaped you and move toward what feeds your soul.
Maybe you don’t have a clue where you’re going, and it might require you to do something scary.
Join the club! We're all fakin' it until we make it. That’s A-OK!! Be open. Opportunities like to throw themselves at you all the time, hoping against hope that you’ll take them home. It’ll be waaaay easier to say yes, when you actually trust that life just wants good things for you.
So, enough. Take back your power. Your life is beautiful. Your life is amazing. Use Eva’s story to inspire you, like me, to know that life has it’s own plan for us. And we’re all just a piece of the privileged puzzle.
With much love & appreciation,
Laurie-Ell xo
As always, take what you need and leave the rest,
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