Life on Your Own Terms

In a previous article, I wrote of how I personally witnessed in the life of my Cocker Spaniel, a determination to create an environment conducive to his desires as a canine. He lived life on his own terms and for the better.

So what does it mean to "live life on your own terms"? This is what I take from it, although their exist many perspectives on this catch-phrase.

Living life on your own terms involves determining what it is that you want from life, examining your ability to achieve those goals given your environment and the willingness to modify or change direction when necessary, even in the face of adversity in order to create the life that you want.

Much of this creation comes from within, and I'll get into this in later posts. Have you ever noticed that there are some people who seem to fundamentally handle the conditions of their life regardless of the situation, better than others? I believe they do so because they have a certain amount of independence, that while bending, are rarely broken. They adapt to situations more readily than the majority of us and when faced with obstacles, find a way around them or use them as an opportunity for change.

This willingness to face life, with its many challenges and not lose faith in the fundamental belief in their right to be content and to live life in a fulfilling manner, sets them apart. They are not manipulated by their environment or conditions thereof, but instead chose their own path, even in the face of adversity.

Owing to this, they often suffer direct or indirect ridicule; however, they remain undeterred. It seems as though they have a natural instinct for survival on their own terms. They therefore choose a direction that while possibly laden with obstacles, offers the best opportunity for happiness on their own terms.

Time and time again, the end result of their choices is one they can live with
and these choices won't always make them popular or be the best in the eyes of the public. They don't ignore public opinion, but choose their own paths to happiness in light of it.

Those who live life on their own terms often go unnoticed, but they are with us in all facets of our society from the poor and downtrodden to the very rich. Regardless of their station in life, they seem to take more from their environment and they intentionally structure it for their well-being.

When they fall they get up, use adversity as an opportunity and are characteristically optimistic, even when they get down. Most, although not all, have a belief in something greater than themselves and are well served by gratitude for what they have, even unspoken.

These are the purveyors of lives sustained and nurtured by their inherent instincts and the willingness to often buck the trend. They will often take heed of prevailing attitudes, but in the end, make choices that fit their desires. The quality of life is an essential to their happiness; in doing so, they create their lives from within.