What does Quality of Life mean to You?
Everyone has a different vision of what this looks like. While living in semi-isolation and in a contemptuous work environment, I have begun to dive into what quality of life looks like to me.
I have been working a job that has me questioning what is important for me to live a purpose-filled and balanced life. I am finding that my current situation is not providing the necessary needsa. I am left wondering if it is worth sticking around for and whether it’s for the right reasons.
In fact, that job itself isn’t too bad. It is in a field of interest (event planning and management) and I have pretty decent hours (well that was all about the change when they changed my job and my hours! I was now working reception and arriving at work at 5:45am! More to come on this). It’s more the life that I live outside of work. I live about a 15-minute drive from work in a place that is in the middle of nowhere. Without a car, there is little opportunity to do much exploring and getting a ride to the grocery store is like hitting the jackpot. I used to moan and groan when my mom asked me to run to the store to grab something and now I would do it in a heartbeat! It’s funny what we realize we have taken for granted when we are in new, unfamiliar environments.
I spend my days off praying that the phone will ring with someone wanting to invite me on an excursion. Sometimes things work out better than planned, while other times I am restricted to paths leading to old reservoirs and unpromising nature trails to pass the time. I came to this region for the landscape and outdoor opportunities, but my interaction with it has been minor and it’s making me rethink where I want to be.
Walking to the closest town or trailhead from my house would probably take me 4+ hours. Based on where I live, all outdoor pursuits are very inaccessible without a car.
In addition, there is no wifi out where live, well unless you have a smart phone data plan. And yes, I still have not joined the smart phone bandwagon. I am a proud owner of the simplest Samsung phone you can get. It’s amazing how we expect wifi to be everywhere and I kind of think it should be, but I am learning that it isn’t always the case.
So I am left to ponder what those things are that I most desire in my life to feel balanced and complete.
- A Sense of Community.
This desire is getting stronger the more I move around. It is possible to have even as a transient traveler, it just takes a special group of people to make it happen even if it’s only for a season.
- Access to Outdoor Spaces and Exploration.
Living near a walking path, a lake, river, the ocean, a park or hiking trails always gives me a feeling of finding balance wherever I am. I like to find my quiet place in nature in whatever location I find myself in.
- Connection to Friends and Family.
As every traveler knows, it is imperative to feel you can connect with friends and family. It keeps you grounded and instills love and encouragement when you need it most.
- Something to Believe in and Belong to.
Whether it’s a spiritual community or practicing sustainability by supporting the local farmer’s market, it is essential to feel like you belong in a group of like-minded people.
- Opportunities to Engage in your Favorite Hobbies.
As many people know, I love to dance and listen to live music. Being able to have classes to take and venues to see local gigs in is one definitely something I look for in my happy place. Even a local café is something that gets my wheels spinning when it comes to writing for my website and pondering the road ahead.
Now that I’ve shared some of mine, I’d love to get some insight on what aspects you desire in an ideal living situation that offer you a balanced, fulfilled life?
Please share below or on my Facebook page. 🙂 Thank you!