A few weeks ago my husband and I sat eating lunch in a local fast food establishment. As we sat eating our less than nutritious meal and entertained ourselves with the small talk of the day, the line at the counter and the drive-thru got to a point of "critical mass". If you've ever worked in a restaurant you know what I'm talking about. It's the point during a hectic lunch or dinner hour where you wish you had superpowers to stop time, or duplicate yourself, or simply punch out and go home because there is nothing you can do but expect to be absolutely overwhelmed with what is going on around you.

I was sure those were the thoughts running rampant through the restaurant manager's head. Then my husband, the profound observer that he is, said something absolutely profound. "Looks like everyone's just trying to get the most of what they can and survive today". Now I will be the first to admit that my husband's observations of life are not always profound at first glance; but this one has stuck with me and changed my perspective in ways that I could have never imagined.

He went on to explain how he observed that everyone in the setting we watched play out before us was just trying to carve out the best existence that they could with the means that they had. The people anxious to get burgers with their "two for one" coupon; the manager who wasn't working with the fastest and brightest group of individuals; every person in that building, including us, was just trying to survive another day hoping for something greater to come along. We were all trying to get a little more for a little less because we didn't have enough emotionally, physically and financially to obtain the little more. In essence we were simply surviving in the place that we were because that's just how it had always been and that's how it would always be.

This whole concept irritated me right down to my core. I am not one who likes to live by the ordinary standard. Some call me an “over achiever” or an “idealist”. I personally like to use the more positively spun use of these titles like “successful hard worker” and “visionary”. J Anyway, back to my point which is that I truly believe that there has to be something more. I don’t want to simply survive in my life. I want to thrive! I don’t want to wish it different; I want to live it different!

So this week I decided to start and invite you along on the journey as either a participant or an observer. I will post whenever I get the chance to; when the thought strikes or when a new opportunity to thrive presents itself. It will be a completely honest look into my life and as I learn how to no longer just survive, but thrive!

So my question for you today….will you just survive? Or will you thrive?