What does it mean to Thrive?

It’s a question that’s been percolating through my mind for months, slowly brewing like a pot of coffee – which I no longer drink thanks to the constant pitter pattering palpitations – but the question of what it means to THRIVE has been weighing heavily on my heart.

My husband gave me the greatest gift of all – a book to read. Books are important. They helps us navigate the world in a new way, armed with perspective we didn’t possess before. Sometimes books can be the beginning of a self evolution. “Thrive” by Arianna Huffington is just that. I’m about 1/3 through the book. I’ve stopped to reflect and think about what I’ve learned so far – much of my blog has been about documenting the different journeys in my life – from health and fitness – to most recently, the creation of yoU Mag – a side project of sorts. I’m not sure what it will grow into but all I cared about was nurturing it to birth, its conception. Now that I have finally arrived, I want to keep going – mostly because I think it’s in our nature as humans to want to thrive. Sadly I think the world – as Arianna points out in her book – needs to wake up. We are bound by our gadgets, ironically and hypocritically here I am furiously typing away on my computer – but I’m sitting on my back patio looking out into the distance – breathing deeply – drawing inspiration and peace from the majestic beauty that surrounds me.

Once we awaken our souls to this word called “Thrive” – it’s too late. There is no turning back – entirely impossible to shut the door in its face. Once you know what it feels like to thrive – or once you discover the meaning of what it would and should feel like to THRIVE – you can’t blindly turn away from its light. Maybe this sounds cooky to you.

It’s not. My point – in simple terms – is this: LIFE IS SHORT. You hear the saying sprinkled throughout the course of your life but do you really understand its meaning? To me, it means it’s too short to keep yourself up late at night thinking about all the things that ultimately never matter in the end. What matters is that you lived your life fully.

My father has a favorite song – we danced to it at my wedding – “I did it my way…” by Frank Sinatra. He sang it with passion as we swirled around – now knowing and truly understanding the meaning of those words to a man like my Dad who has truly done it his way.

*That is what thriving is all about. Finding contentment, chasing your dreams – doing what you always wanted – without fear of anyone or anything (even if it’s yourself) – standing in your way.

XOX, Nineveh