‘Managing life,’ that’s the way people back home tend to answer you when you ask them how they are doing.
How I dislike that phrase!
Life is meant to be lived with all your senses wide awake to it and not to be managed. Life has manifolds that could take you on a surprising journey. It’s not something that you can command or manipulate.
In my opinion, managing life sounds as if you are simply gritting your teeth, hanging in there by your mandibles and just existing.
Almost as though life is such a painstaking experience that lacks all manners of joy in it and only meant to be endured. I honestly don’t know why this phrase manifests negative connotations of life in my mind.
I am thinking that maybe it’s because the word ‘manage’ is used in a myriad of things that present difficulty, such as: manage pain, manage weight, manage health, manage illness, manage work et cetera.
Life is certainly full of mangy issues, but you can definitely try to maneuver through the routes that the journey of life presents you with some joie de vivre in your survival kitty and instead of ‘managing life‘ I’d rather think that I’m a mastering living a conscious, mindful, and spirited life.
Jacqueline
I like that concept – mastering life! I know what you mean Jacqueline. It’s similar to when people respond with ‘I’m surviving.’
Thanks also for the new word “mandible”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know how often we use that word ‘manage’ and it instantly brings about an image of something that’s unmanageable 🙂 That’s why the negativity attached to the word…but yes…life should not be managed but lived !
LikeLiked by 2 people
I fall into the managing column unfortunately. Some days barely getting by.
LikeLike
With your tenacity, you’ll hopefully leave that column soon 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea, Jacque, well-done. You certainly “maned up” in managing “man.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a way to work that prompt! Sometime I manage life, sometimes life manages me, and sometimes the joie de vivre overflows and I dance! As long as I have some balance, I’m okay, but I do like to feed that treasure chest of joy so I’ll always be able to go there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m in the managing group today chugging toward mastering. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!
LikeLike
Yes you can, yes you can, yes you can 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mastering life…I like that!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love your soc writing. Jacqueline do you ever get writers blog.. you write daily , you youtube and much more?
Btw i love this post especialy how you bolded the word man…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much dear Bella. I actually chuckled at your comment ‘cos I am just drafting a post on writer’s block and how I cope. I haven’t experienced a block in ages’ The inspiration flows faster than I can even keep up. I’m also working on two books which should be out by May & June all things being equal. I believe it’s just Grace 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ahh wow so exciting..
LikeLike
Yes, I so love and agree with your perspective! Life is to be lived with all its richness and juiciness!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like how you emphasize man in those words and then I remember you are in the Middle East: a man’s world, so your perspective like mine when I was there was on “Man” also. Thanks for posting. I like how you manage to work with the man in this posting!
LikeLiked by 2 people
OY! being an assistant to a MANager i do not like that phrase either! Very fun read to, i might add! bonjour!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sometimes it’s amazing, how we expect to keep all these balls in the air 🙂 Mastery, true pleasure in mastery, is surely a better, more manageable goal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hear, hear! You do more than just manage when you enjoy moments, face challenges, and live life the best way you know how.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved your mantra 😉
LikeLike
Thank you Mick. Life is hard enough, so I try my best to make it less so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your most welcome, take care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I kind of like the word manage myself. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a very positive person Jacqui, and amke the most out of life and the experiences that it offers you.
It does seem to be a abit of an odd epression, ‘manage life’ but I can understand where they are coming from sometimes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved it!!!!!
LikeLike
I feel we all live not manage… some thing which is as spontaneous even the best manager cannot handle…
LikeLiked by 1 person