The life you’ve imagined

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.” ― Henry David Thoreau

Have you ever heard that quote? I always loved it – a simple message about being genuine and true. I’ve come to find it disorienting in recent years though. I didn’t imagine the life I’m living. I didn’t imagine I would be sitting on a bench in Switzerland watching the sunset. I didn’t imagine I’d be working in tech. I didn’t imagine this life at all. When I read this quote now, I try to imagine my future life and my mind goes blank. If I couldn’t imagine this life I’m living now, how can I be trusted to imagine a future one?

I’m lucky that this unimagined life is so very mine. I grip it firmly in my hands and ask repeatedly, “how did I end up with you?!” This feeling might be why it’s never quite felt like mine and why I so want to share it any moment I can. On the flip side, perhaps I just need to get a better imagination 😉