Living Up to Your Standards
Antréa Ferguson, MSPH
COO @ SHANKX | Sharing a lifestyle others aspire to. Building a life that thrives, powered by crypto.
Do you live up to your own standards when no one's watching?
Shankar Poncelet and I took a quick weekend getaway just 45 minutes away to the charming Downtown Abbey in San Marcos. With its pointed arch windows and green and white fa?ade, the historic building turned Airbnb somehow managed to blend old-world charm with modern comfort! As we have begun to travel to Europe more often, it was neat being in a European-esque church while still in the New World.
I didn’t pack much since it was close. Our recent conversations about minimalism and deciding what kind of travelers we wish to remain inspired me to pack literally only waht I need.
I found a Black Friday deal on a very cozy pair of pajamas but I only brought a backpack and one packing cube. As I remembered our agreement, "one thing in, another thing out," I decided I would need to leave my old set behind. This was the standard we set.
I wasn't sorely attached, nevertheless, it did spark an insight into equanimity, impermanence, and letting go. I realized I had more than one good pair of pajamas while others had none. As winter approaches, a small act of donating could make a real difference for someone in need.
So I chose to give my old pajamas away once I was back instead of conveniently tossing them. But the trip taught me so much more than responsible buying habits...
It reminded me that, at the deepest level, our small daily choices shape us profoundly. Beyond just "things," our character, principles, and contributions to the world - these define a life of purpose.
As I looked around at the books filling the walls, I thought about how crucial it is not to stop educating yourself, no matter how much you already know. To keep growing in understanding different views and making conversation.
And to steward ourselves, our health, and our relationships with care since we’re blessed to have them. Even the priorities of staying informed and cultivating wisdom are essential. Who I continue becoming depends so much on who I consciously choose to be today.
I realized when no one’s watching or keeping score, we are the judge of whether we live up to our own ideals. Our conduct should measure up when reviewed from within not without.
Anyway, these were just some reflections that the historic abbey stirred up between moments of silence. What about you - have any experiences caused you to ponder life’s deeper meanings when you least expected it? I’d love to hear your revelations, too!
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Thank you for reading.
Mindfully,
Medical Biller and Coder | Electronic Health Records Specialist | Driving Healthcare Efficiency and Data Integrity | Healthcare Carer
1 年Thank you Antréa Ferguson, MSPH, I appreciate your reflection, inflection, and insight. Very good. ?? ?? ??
Credit Specialist at CreditRestorers, has partnered w/ Banks, Car Dealers, Credit Card Providers, Furniture Dealers, Financial Loan Professionals, Realtors & Brokers & other Credit Repair Companies to help strengthen up.
1 年Yes, living up to our standards is in my opinion, character and any person who keeps that sacred; will even if silently, succeed cause somehow the good deeds will show. Besides honesty is Always the best policy, even if your failure has been caused by someone who chose not to follow; properly some types of instruction; see when dealing with customers, the concept should be integrity, first Always even if they choose not to be true. As far as I’m concerned, character coupled with honesty and integrity; gives and leaves room for grows.
Financial Planning Associate at FinFit Life
1 年Images are part of our experiences, dream memories, places of bad moments, they are the sum of our journey through life, that is why we appreciate happiness, because it lasts as little as the images that come and go, in knowledge it reinforces empirical learning. You achieve wisdom over time and, you do not have to be a scholar or intellectual, only if you want it can you access it, changing if you are on the wrong path, seeking happiness through a healthy emotional state, a care of your health as the aphorism says: "Healthy body in a healthy mind."