"The Master in the Art of Living."

The most well-put synopsis I've ever seen for how life should be lived.

I stumbled upon this quote a few weeks ago, and it hit me like Ray f*cking Lewis in the B Gap on a goal line dive. Here’s why…

I have always been a reach-for-the-stars kind of guy. From the outside looking in, if you didn’t know me personally, it may be hard to see that. If you met me after 2021 or so, you probably wouldn’t know that. For the past couple of years, on the surface, I have been living what looks to be a comfortable, mediocre life. I have a decent corporate job, a nice apartment, some consistent investments, good friends, a wife that I love, and a golden retriever. Not too much out of the ordinary.

If you really knew me - you’d know that this kind of existence is just… uncomfortable for me.

If you really knew me, you’d know that I spend the majority of my waking hours, “on an adventure or planning the next one.”

If you really knew me, you’d know that I self-identify as an entrepreneur - having started, built, failed, and succeeded at several different self-started ventures outside of my primary job over the last couple of years.

If you really knew me, you’d know that I cannot sit still - literally, figuratively, and metaphorically.

If you really knew me, you’d know that I have every reason to be satisfied and content with my life, but I’m not (Hannah hates when I say this lol it’s not your fault wifey, it’s just how I’m wired!). I feel an intrinsic desire that I cannot separate myself from, woven into the fabric of my being, to achieve more, discover more, and experience more.

If you didn’t know me before - I hope this helps you to understand the kind of person I am. I don’t plan on ever truly “retiring.” I’m not wired that way - never have been, probably never will be. My dad isn’t this way, his dad wasn’t before him - maybe it’s a genetic thing? Who knows… All I know is that as long as I’m able, I’ll be searching for and working towards something.

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For all the reasons stated above, that is exactly why this quote moved me so much. In the most well-said way that I’ve heard in my life, this James Michener fella put words to how I’ve always felt. For me, there is no end goal to be achieved in this life. Let me reiterate that point, because I think that’s the core message Michener is trying to get across. There is no finish line in life. There should be no point in which you feel like you’ve made it, and it’s time to relax and call it quits. A successful life, in my eyes, is living each day in a way that brings you both happiness and purpose, and finishing each day excited for what the next day will bring. Without further ado, here is -

“The Master in the Art of Living.”

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he’s always doing both.”

-James Michener

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I hope this quote resonated with some of you. I am a huge quote guy. As far back as I can remember, well-organized and deliberate words have always spoken to me.

Ask my parents - I had quotes all over my childhood basement weight-room that I found inspiration in. I’m thinking this will be the first of a quote series for the blog… there won’t be any consistent dates they come, but I have a dozen or so of my all-time favorite quotes thumbtacked to my bathroom wall that I’d love to share with whoever reads this.

Maybe they’ll move something in your soul, like they have mine.

Thanks for reading, until next time -

Reid