Two weeks ago on a Thursday it snowed lightly for a few hours here in Tianjin, China. Snow is an uncommon occurrence here and so when it does snow, I normally like to go out and take some photos. I decided to go down to Tianjin’s biggest park.
Walking around taking photos, I suddenly thought, “Man, I’m lucky. I’m in a huge park with some lovely scenery and it’s almost empty!” If it were the weekend, the park would be packed.
I then realized it’s because I’ve chosen to not go the wage slave route, but rather take a risk and design my life. Here I was on a Thursday afternoon with the time to be able to come out and make use of a rare opportunity.
Lifestyle design allows us to put our written plans, schedules, and tasks aside and just live with a spirit of freedom from time to time.
When I came back from the two-hour walk around the park taking photos, I felt so invigorated and at peace. I’m glad I decided to break my schedule. I’m glad I didn’t have to stay stuck in an office under the gaze of some boss.
So, today, all I want for you to do is to take a few moments to appreciate lifestyle design. When an opportunity comes along to enjoy life, be adventurous and spontaneous and don’t be afraid to have fun.
However, it’s important to choose the right opportunities to enjoy yourself. Don’t get into the habit of putting off tasks for every little interesting thing, but at the same time don’t create a prison for yourself where you must stick to a schedule so rigidly that you miss out on some of the finer experiences life spontaneously offers you.
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G'day! I'm Gordie, founder and editor-in-chief of Lifestyle Design For You. I want to welcome you to the center of the universe when it comes to lifestyle design and personal development blogs. We're a team of ten writers providing you with articles to help nourish your mind and improve your life. Lifestyle design is about designing your life so you can do what you want when you want. 
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Even if you are a “wage slave” it still possible to create a framework through which you can lead a better life. It just requires imagination, dedication, perseverance and the will to succeed.
Kevin Tea’s last blog ..Battle Of The Webclippers 鈥?Which One Has Top Spot?
That can be true. Helps if you have a good boss too.
Great and very beautiful photos. You are a lucky dude. These are the things that I can’t wait for once I can have a job that doesn’t tie me down. Good inspiration to start my day!
Nate’s last blog ..Soap. Lather. Rinse. Repeat 鈥?The art of living free in the moment while naked in the shower
Hi Nate,
You’ll really appreciate when the time comes.
That scenery looks very relaxing. Makes me wish I were there. Guess it’s time to make some traveling plans.
Eduard
Ideas With A Kick’s last blog ..Forget achieving life balance and try this instead
Hi Eduard,
It was a very relaxing afternoon. Very quiet and peaceful there.
My husband is about to move from a job where he’s been self employed with one big contract, which meant working full-time, but with flexibility, to working full-time as an employee of a large firm. While we’re very excited about the opportunity, we’ll also miss the ability to take off when we want to. He’s always been able to just take his work with him wherever we go, and now he’ll be tied to an office every day.
I think there are seasons for everything, and right now, this is going to be very good for him, and us as a family. We actually need some structure. However, we will look forward to being on our own again.
Gordie, these are some beautiful pictures!!
Erica Mueller’s last blog ..When Tech Support Asks; What’s In Your Closet?
Hi Erica,
If you think the time is right for your husband to be in full-time employment again for a while, that’s fine. Look at the benefits of that and be positive.
I’m all about flexibility at this point in my life. I think you basically make a short term sacrifice (i.e. steady paycheck, higher salary) for a long term gain when you pursue this path
Srinivas Rao’s last blog ..IBS, ADHD, and Uphill Career Battles
Exactly.
These are great shots Gordie, ever considered photography?
Hi John,
Photography is my hobby. When I go back to NZ I hope to by a decent semi-professional camera one day and learn photography properly.
Just want to comment on the pics. Very impressive. Fantastic. I like landscape pictures, so these were a real treat for me.
Robert Bravery’s last blog ..X-Factor your blog
Glad you enjoyed them.
Great pics Gordie.
Having the freedom to be spontaneous without penalty is priceless. The important thing is to be positive about your situation, no matter what.
Jimi Jones’s last blog ..6 Twitter Tools for Gathering Statistics
You strike me as a pretty positive chap, Jimi.
Beautiful pictures!
By the way, think twice about what you wrote above: “When I go back to NZ I hope to by a decent semi-professional camera one day and learn photography properly…” You don’t need to own a “decent semi-professional camera one day”, you don’t need to “learn photography properly”… You only need to practice and practice and practice taking pictures…
I think that in some way, what you are doing with your blog and the photography is what I am doing with my blog and the cartooning: Creating a way of practicing our talents while we share our unique Life perspectives… Keep it up! Gordie!
Thanks for that Boris. I suppose I feel I just need to learn a bit more about lighting, angles and the technical elements as taking “slow” shots as well as upping my Photoshop skills.
Hey Gordie, great posts, those were very nice, I’m a fan of landscape photo as well, but it kind of reminded me that snow is coming =P
Hey Tu,
Glad you liked the photos. Where are you? You will probably get more snow than we do in winter here.
Like the photos Gordie! Just looking at them makes me feel relaxed!
Glad they do. You’ll recognize the water park here in Tianjin.
Yes, I did recognize the place. You were lucky to have gone in on a day when apparently nobody else had the same idea! And that is saying something in this city of 10 million plus!
Great photos – have you got any of cityscapes? Cityscapes and skylines fascinate me also.