“Live life to the fullest!”  “Enjoy every day!” 

I’ve noticed that these sentiments are the sorts of things people tend to say to each other if someone has been having health issues, or has had a health scare or similar circumstances.  “You just never know… Live every day!”

I don’t know about you, but when I someone say those things to me, I feel a pang of guilt or anxiety.  I begin to stress that perhaps I am not living as ‘fully’ as I could be.

Or am I?

What does “Living life to the fullest” actually mean?  For me, I picture people laughing and engaging in exotic experiences.  The reality is though, most of us can’t spend everyday zip-lining through treetops like we won the Lotto 649.  Nor would we want to.

Travel, exotic experiences, and special moments are important contributors to the joy of life, of course, but I don’t believe those moments are meant to be an every day occurrence.  To paraphrase Yogi Berra, ‘If everyday were special, it wouldn’t be.”

I mean, a day zip-lining through tree tops sure sounds like fun, but at the end of that day you will still be throwing a load of wash in the laundry and flossing your teeth before bed.

So what does ‘living fully’ really mean? 

After much ponderance, (a new word, see?  Being creative is living fully, in my book), I think living fully is simply being present when you are engaged in an activity you enjoy.  If that moment is zip-lining, love that moment.  If it is sipping a good cup of coffee outside on a summer morning, savour it.  If it is a rousing back yard pool party with family and friends, be there and revel in it.

Buddhists teachings recommend being present to every moment and all tasks.  So if you really enjoy flossing you teeth, then your experience of enjoyment in that moment is ‘living fully’. 

In conclusion, perhaps ‘living fully’ is living without complaint.  Don’t complain that laundry exists, enjoy your clean clothes.  Don’t complain you are not zip-lining, enjoy your current moment.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog.  Your comments, questions, ideas and suggestions are always welcome.  You can comment here, or choose between Facebook, Twitter, or the contact button.  

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger.  I keep it short and to the point.  Topics are as wide ranging as a straight but not narrow path.