Lifestyle – Kim Shivonne

I like utilizing Uber for the convenience of the service; plus, I enjoy engaging on a personal level with people even if it is just for a brief moment. Not having at least a basic conversation with my Uber driver is just awkward for me. Now I respect if they do not want to converse; but more times than not they are just as ready for a good conversation as I am. And I have had many great conversations. On a recent trip, however, my Uber experience went to the next level. In the middle of a thought-provoking conversation about life (yep on a 6 mile trip) my Uber driver Anthony ask me these insightful questions.

20+ years from now how do you envision your life?
How does that life feel?

Wow! I love getting deep but I was not ready for this. I am trying to envision what my life will be like next year. So, I paused, I smiled and then started searching my brain for an answer. It went so fast I think I said something like enjoying life with my husband(currently not in a relationship) while continuing to grow individually and as a couple; living 4 months of the year in Europe and blah blah blah….

If you read the ‘Follow Your Yellow Brick Road – Part 1’ blog post you already know that I am on this find your passion and live your truth journey. I have been working on my passion roadmap and my passion plans. These are exercises in the Passion Planner which is a planning tool that helps you break down your short and long-term goals and incorporate them in your daily life. Thus, I have my 3 month, 1 year, 3 years, lifetime wish list which you only have 5 minutes to write down. If you have never heard of the Passion Planner check it out (www.passionplanner.com). It may surprise you what you can dream up in 5 minutes! I am not getting paid to endorse.

My Passion Roadmap – Dreams/Wish list

3 Years Wish List: travel, write a book, learn photography, speak 5 languages fluently, married, on the path to owning a successful business

Lifetime Wish List: direct a film, travel to every country, own a second home in Europe, multi-millionaire, coach and help others realize their dreams

Anthony’s questions made me realize; I have not consciously looked at my goals as a connected collage and visualized how my life would look or better yet how it would feel once I reached my goals. This could be because I am a big believer that the true joy is in the journey/process of achieving my personal goals. My wish lists and goals may change as I grow and evolve. However, the conversation with Anthony got me thinking deeper about how the individual goals that I choose to work on will shape my life now and in the distant future. What value will these goals bring to myself and others once I achieve them?

I do not want my short and long-term goals to just turn into a new form of consumption. Replacing buying shiny objects with the acquisition of goals and achievements. You know, not being fulfilled several months after you achieve a goal because the thrill or experience of achieving the goal is over. Just like sometimes you forget about that new toy that you just had to buy but it is sitting in your closet not being used. I acknowledge that some of my goals have turned into a form of consumption. This scares me.

Some of the big themes in this modern digital ecosystem is to Grind and Hustle. Those words are all over social media. Do not get me wrong. I truly believe in working hard. I will always have dreams and goals. They keep me excited. They keep me feeling youthful. I also believe that without focus, dedication and some sense of hustle and grind I will not achieve these goals. And, I hope to God that the journey and the process will continue to bring me joy! If it doesn’t, I am on the wrong path to my destination. I just realize now that I need to start learning how to view my goals in a more connected mindset. Once I achieve them, than what? How will I use them before I move on to the next and the next…..

I am not going to front and pretend that I have the 12 step life plan. I will definitely share when I figure it out or when someone decides to share it with me!

I am curious if you have ever ask yourself these questions?

Are you replacing material consumption with the hustle and the grind life?
What do you envision your life to be like after you achieve your goals?
Do you view your individual goals with a connected mindset?

The American Dream

For a long time in our developed society, we have been programmed to believe that our path in life is linear. There is only one golden yellow brick road to fulfilment and success. If we checked off the boxes on that yellow brick road; we will lead a good life. We will be happy or at least satisfied. This was the simple navigational guide. Our companies, education system and government… were designed to support this narrative and guide us through life. Sometimes the path looked more like this with hills and valleys.

Born→Primary School→College→Linear Career→Marriage/Kids→Retire→Die

Don’t forget to accumulate lots of stuff while you are during the above♥

Was everyone happy? No! However, the majority of the population knew what was expected of them. So there had to be something wrong with you if you did everything on the list and was still not happy. Per my parents; what does happiness have to do with anything. Believe in God, get a job (college was a privilege), care for yourself and family, deal! That should make you happy.

Find Your Passion & Than Choose Your Own Path

Well mom and dad, I want to do more than just deal. I drank the Kool Aid (cherry). I bought into the “Find Your Passion” movement. I want to travel through life on MY yellow brick road not THE yellow brick road.

I expected at this point in my life that I would have it all figured out. I would know my ultimate truths and would be actively living them daily. As much Oprah and Brene Brown I listen too, I should have an honorary doctorate in my truths by now. ~~Unfortunately, I do not.~~ Scratch that – I know my core truths.

My core truth is that I am a creator
I want to bring significant value to the world
I want to help others realize their greatness too

Wow, I said that out load! However, I have been afraid to acknowledge and live that best life. Creators and people who bring significant value to the world are super heroes to me.

When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a dancer. Dancing was my happy place. I came alive on stage. I am an introvert and as a child I confused that with being shy. I was not shy. I also had a speaking impediment. Dancing was my creative outlet and the way I communicated to the world. I told life stories through my dance and through the bond of human emotion people understood what was being said. I did not have to verbally speak.

I was the youngest of six kids. I was the first child with the opportunity to graduate from university. My parents sacrificed and worked really hard to give me this opportunity. I took many dance classes in College but I could not bring my self to major in dance. I majored in business. It was my choice. I just could not justify having my father who had to drop out of college to support a family and my mother who did not graduate high school during manual labor to pay for a degree in Dance.

This was just one of many choices that veered me from my creative path. Or so I thought.😌 These choices do not change my ultimate destiny. They just interrupt how I am getting there.

This post is titled Part 1 because it is Part 1 of many. How many, I don’t know yet. As many as it takes to get this thing right. Or right for me. What did Trump say, he did not know that Healthcare was hard. Well, this whole live your life purpose is hard too. I want to use the “Follow Your Yellow Brick Road’ series as a place to explore how to live my Purpose in this capitalistic Digital Age always connected world.

I hope you stay with me on my journey. If you already got this Purpose thing figured out. Please leave a comment below and share. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Category: Lifestyle

My Uber Driver became My Life Coach! (Follow Your Yellow Brick Road – Part 2)

Follow Your Yellow Brick Road – Part 1

The American Dream

Find Your Passion & Than Choose Your Own Path