It’s Not a Dress Rehearsal

So many times, in life, we can live life like this is our dress rehearsal.

It seems like so many of us are waiting…waiting for the right moment or the right opportunity, and thinking, “When the right time comes, then I’ll do it”. 

But the problem there, is that we may never know when the right moment is, or we may miss the right opportunity, because in this life, every moment counts, and we need to stop living like this is our dress rehearsal.

“Live today. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Just today. Inhabit your moments. Don’t rent them out to tomorrow.” -Jerry Spinello

Here is my silly, but still accurate illustration…I have these shoes…this amazing, incredible pair of high heels, that my husband got me for my birthday years ago.  After repeated requests, not-so-subtle hints, and even pictures left to leave no doubt as to what I wanted, he bought these amazing, glitter, peep-toe heels, that look like my own personal version of Cinderella shoes.  And better yet, they make me feel like a queen. 

But I save them…for special occasions and significant moments.  I treat them like holidays, the kinds we look so forward to them, but who only have their day in the sun a few times a year, and then we wish for them to be back.  I am keeping me and my glorious shoes, from owning any day as the perfect time to shine.

Why? Why keep myself from enjoying something beautiful, that makes me feel amazing?  Why stop myself from taking EVERY opportunity, and making it the right moment and seizing every chance I get to make this the right opportunity?

The only reason I can come up with, is that so many of us have become trained to believe, that we are in a constant state of waiting for our own lives to begin, and using all this time up to it, as our own dress rehearsal.

We need to stop; stop the waiting, stop the thinking it’s not the right time, and start living your best life…today!

What is it you want to do?

When we are little kids, it is easy to dream about the person we will become, and envision them, without ever doubting our ability to become them.  But then, too often, life steps in and as we become adults, and face disappointment, adversity, and failures, we lose that same ability to still believe in ourselves, and all of our glory.

But, what if, just for fun, we got back to our little kid self-confidence, where we didn’t believe in limitations, and instead only saw possibilities?  What would you be dreaming that you would do? 

“Live your life. Take chances. Be crazy. Don’t wait. Because right now is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll be…ever again.” -Suzanne Collins

Maybe you would go and seek out the dream job, that you have told yourself you aren’t ready for?  Maybe you would go back to school and finish the degree you keep telling yourself you are too old/broke/tired/busy to get? Maybe you would finally stop worrying about what someone else would say, and write the book/write the song/create the idea/start the company/travel the world/speak your truth, and just finally be exactly who is it that you are meant to be?

It doesn’t matter how big the dream is, or how lofty the goal seems to be.  What matters is that you get back to the place of believing, and take steps now, each and every day to own this journey you are on. What matters is that you live this day, and every day, moving in the direction of exactly what it is you are meant to do, and make this moment the one where you take center stage in your life, and live your story the way you want to.

Step into the limelight of your own play, and begin taking the lead in your life.  Make choices and take steps every day that remind you, in this life, your only limitations are the ones you accept.  Show yourself that the possibilities are endless, when you act as if every day matters, and choose to own this moment as yours, and make it everything you want it to be.

Who is it you want to be?

Sometimes, over time, we can lose touch with the very idea of who it is we are meant to be. 

Most of us get caught up in the daily routine of our lives, and while we are living, and hopefully loving, in each of our days, we can forget what it is that used to make us feel special.

When we get into dress rehearsal mentality, we can lose that connection to what makes us special our best, our most beautiful, and our most inspired self.

Maybe it is as simple as taking the extra five minutes to put on your favorite lipstick, style your hair or wearing the outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks? Maybe it’s taking the class, running the race, singing out loud when your song comes on, and never worrying about what anyone else thinks, but knowing you deserve to feel inspired, happy, and so very IN this moment.

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” -Anonymous

Perhaps getting out of a dress rehearsal mindset involves showing up, speaking out, or letting go. If you don’t let yourself be known or seen, because of your own doubts or insecurities, work to be kind to you. Be compassionate with yourself, but willing to believe you deserve to own this beautiful life you have. There is no one out there who can own your stage better than you. Learn to trust your own voice, and honor your uniqueness.

Take today, and remember who it is you want starring in this story of your life. Maybe they are the person who takes care of themselves, physically, mentally and emotionally, because they know they deserve the effort. Maybe they go boldly into this world, regardless of anyone else’s opinions, shining like the kings and queens they are, because they know the spotlight will gladly shine on them, when they are willing to step into their own brilliant light.

If you have held back your voice, let it out. If you have waited behind the curtain for your moment, step into the light. You are deserving of taking the stage in your life the very moment you make that choice. Consider the possibility that you might be the inspiration to another, who sees your courage and willingness to take their own life in their hands and live each moment for the gift it is.

What would you do, if you had no fear?

Perhaps it is our fear that has crept in, slowly, almost unbeknownst to us, that has had us retreating from our best selves.  We didn’t see it as fear, we saw it as “being responsible”, “waiting for the right time”, or “making the smart choice”.  And while there is always a need to make responsible choices in our lives, we need to be careful to notice if responsibility and timing become the excuse for why we never, ever, really truly go for it.

“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” -Wayne Dyer

Try and give yourself a moment…to daydream.  Try and picture yourself fearless, knowing you can absolutely reach any goal you get for yourself, and see who that version is?  What does that version of you look like?  Odds are, they look exactly like you, just freer and happier. 

That version of you is happier, and they are more free, because that version of you won’t let fear be the thing that keeps them from owning the stage of their own life.  That version of you, willingly takes center stage, because they know every day counts, and you, as the star of your own life, deserve the spotlight in your own show.

If you found out tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend it?

This is one of those kinds of questions, that many think is too morbid.  I get it, but the purpose here, is to consider the idea of our own fragility.  Life is a fragile thing, and there are no guarantees on the time we have.

So, if you lived each day, with some respect for the knowledge that we have a finite amount of time, how incredible could each moment be? 

Maybe you would spend it with the people you love most, taking every opportunity to tell them exactly what they mean to you, creating beautiful memories that will stay with you and them forever? 

Or, perhaps you would do the very things that set your soul on fire, filling you with the immense gratitude for the beauty in this world, the incredible opportunities that exist around and within us? 

Potentially, you would treasure each second, as the gift it is, and find a way to leave your mark on this world, leaving it better than you found it!

“Don’t be afraid you life will end; be afraid it will never begin.” -Grace Hansen

Stop waiting…start realizing that today is the perfect day to begin owning your choices, your chances, and your brilliance!

When you stop living in the dress rehearsal, and take center stage in every day of your life, you are enacting change. You become aware, that your very existence is part of this beautiful landscape of life, and that in taking the stage in your own life, to shine like a star, you become the hero of your own story.

Live each day, every day, on purpose and with purpose!

This is not your dress rehearsal, this is your life, to live to the fullest. Reach for any possibility you can imagine…be courageous, be bold, but most importantly, be here and be willing to be whatever version of you that has been patiently waiting to shine. Be the one living these moments in your life, with the knowledge that you are the star of your own show…and you decide how your story goes.

Step into the limelight of your own life, owning all your brilliance, because you deserve to make every moment count.

Love and light to all!