Comments on: Pushing At The Edges of My Small Life

By: MinD

MinD — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:42:47 +0000

Hm, that’s a movie quote I never even thought of before, yet can apply well to so many people’s lives, I’m sure.

All that matters in this world is that you are happy doing what you’re doing. I’m convinced that’s true. If you aren’t happy – big life, small life, whatever – then what difference does anything else make?

By: steph anne

steph anne — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:53:28 +0000

Excellent post. After reading this I’m happy living a small life – even though there are some days where I want to go all out there and do things I wouldn’t normally do and gain desire for more things in my life.

I agree with Mandy by defining what living louder means to you. I’m sure it’s different for everyone depending on their dreams and life aspirations.

By: Elizabeth Marie

Elizabeth Marie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:40:29 +0000

I think you’d scale it. I also think that I’m living a little too loud sometimes, so this was such a lovely reminder for me to scale back-meet you in the middle?? :)

P.S. THANK YOU so much for your comment. I was actually going to email you and see if you could relate, I’m glad it wasn’t just me but I’m sorry it was a lil weird for you as well.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:34:25 +0000

I really liked this post. I watched You’ve Got Mail a few days ago, and that was such a good line.

By: Ashley Lauren

Ashley Lauren — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:53:13 +0000

I remember this line, oh, so perfectly. And, I remember loving it.

If I were to interpret the statement: live louder. I would think: live with conviction. Talking, and being brave, will of course make your life louder. But when I think of that phrase, I think of knowing why you are doing what you are doing (just like your professor asked). Knowing your motives behind EVERYTHING. There are so many people who fall in traps of routine, fulfilling expectations, following patterns set by others. But there are so many choices–choice which give us the need to understand our decisions.

I’ve never heard such a beautiful, or insightful, New Year’s Resolution. I hope that yours has more luck than most.

(Also found your blog via 20SB– and loving it!)

By: Talia

Talia — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:55:16 +0000

This post reminds me of the lyrics from Fiona Apple’s “Extraordinary Machine”: “I’m good at being uncomfortable so I can’t stop changing all the time.” I feel like that a lot. You have to get good at being uncomfortable or you’ll always stay the same. I think it’s good to “live louder” than you’re comfortable with, to try things that might seem scary or even just unusual for your normal routine.

(Found your blog via 20SB’s featured blogger, btw. Congrats!)

By: ashley

ashley — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:55:51 +0000

I think about this ALL THE TIME. What a great great great quote from You’ve Got Mail! Man, and it REALLY hits me. I’m going through a mini-dilemma with my whole going-to-Turkey plan, and I’m trying to figure it all out at the moment. It’s all in attempt to “live louder” like you suggested. I’m tired of being such a timid girl, because I am all too often.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:27:32 +0000

I know that You’ve Got Mail wasn’t the most loved Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movie – but it’s my favorite. I love the bit she does about seeing a Butterfly on the subway. Every time I see that movie I want to pack it all in and move to a city :D

And good luck with living louder :D:D:D

By: brad

brad — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:16:47 +0000

I’m working on amping up the volume, too; or, at least the quality of sound.

I definitely felt like I was on a track and, slowly but surely, having hopped off of it is making more and more sense.

By: shannon

shannon — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:00:39 +0000

what a great goal to have, live louder, do what you want to do…great and also very ambitious, i often wonder that about myself too, am i doing what i want or am i doing what is expected of me? and my answer is often the latter, i mold too well to fit my surroundings and in doing so i deny myself the things that i want, but i’ve gone so long doing for other, do i know how to do for myself? what a thought provoking post! thanks for that.

By: Hope

Hope — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:38:58 +0000

Is this my first comment? Never mind, I’ve been reading for awhile and I wanted to say that I also love that line. As for being braver and living louder? I think for me living bravely means being myself. All the time. :)

By: Mademoiselle Deva

Mademoiselle Deva — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:47:52 +0000

You know I think you need to follow your heart and do what you want to do. Sometimes you will stay calm and sometimes you will speak your heart loud. It’s all fine. It depends on you and how you feel. This line is great, I really like this movie!

P.S. I found your blog through 20sb!

By: Jaclyn

Jaclyn — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:08:14 +0000

I love this post. I think about that movie line all the time, and I have been asking myself the same questions about why I’m doing what I’m doing.

By: SillyJaime

SillyJaime — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:01:26 +0000

I don’t often let myself wonder if what I’m doing is what I want, because I’m afraid I’ll be disappointed.

By: K

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:43:58 +0000

Sometimes I feel like I’m living such a life, and wonder how my life can be livelier. We shall see..

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:56:38 +0000

This is just a tiny comment, but I know exactly what you mean and am pondering the same “tip-toeing” through life thing.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:35:03 +0000

Oh, what a thought-provoking post! Thank you, Ashley. I came to a similar realization a couple weeks ago when I realized that I don’t really want to pursue a career. My ambitions lie in other things I do besides my job. My job pays my bills, teaches me some new skills, gives me some sort of purpose to work toward, but it’s not my life, and it’s not who I am. That realization totally set me free. It’s incredible, isn’t it?

Good luck with living loudly! I think it’s a great goal to work towards, while earning your Ph.D and becoming a professor.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:28:33 +0000

I have that quote written in one of my journals. I like the idea of a valuable but small life, it kind of reminds me that even doing little things for others makes a difference.

By: Herding Cats

Herding Cats — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:31:05 +0000

I’m tempting to make another “100 Things I Need to Do Before I Die” list. Because I seriously need to step it up and out of the “safety” zone.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:52:53 +0000

I love that quote from You’ve Got Mail. It might have to do with the fact that it’s one of my all time favorite movies. But it’s true, I doubt that most of us take the time to reflect and question where we are and why. I asked myself virtually the same questions and came up with a few interesting answers. I wanted the experience of attending college. To me it wasn’t just something I should do. As for my major, I’m still questioning whether I chose the right field. I would have liked to do so many other things like pastry school or industrial design. I’m happy with my decision, but sometimes I wonder what other options would have been like. I did conclude that I don’t live adventurously enough, or loudly rather. I seldom take risks. I feel like trying to take more risks would be good for me.

Your post kind of reaffirmed some of the things I’ve been thinking for a while. It made me smile to know that others feel like I do!