I am reading Matthew McConaughey’s memoir Greenlights and came across this unique way of looking at experiences in life:
I’ve always loved bumper stickers, so much so that I’ve stuck bumper to sticker and made them one word, bumpersticker. They’re lyrics, one-liners, quick hitters, unobtrusive personal preferences that people publicly express. They’re cheap and they’re fun…Some I’ve seen, some I’ve heard, some I stole, some I’ve dreamed, some I said. Some are funny, some are serious, but they all stuck with me…because that’s what bumperstickers do.[1]
What if we could make parts of our experiences like bumperstickers? These would then be like markers on the road, indicating lessons learned, turns taken that turned out to be mistakes, and survival tips we have found in the wilderness. All of these would be like the tagline to the chapters of our story. They are easy to remember, they stick and they indicate the longer version when we decide to indulge in them.
When I did this exercise for myself, not only were there bumperstickers that were rooted in the past, as most of them will naturally be, but I also got to decide which ones will inform the path ahead. These are the ones I will display, the ones I will proudly stick to the back of my car that tell the world my identity, my beliefs, my philosophy. Everything that contribute to the definition of who I am.
I encourage you all to take a moment and look back at the rearview mirror. What scenes do you see? How has this shaped who you are? What have you taken along with you? What do you want to take forward? You are in the driver’s seat, and you get to decide what gets stuck to the bumper of your car. Have fun!
These are some of mine (some are obvious, some universal, some quirky, some cheesy, some might resonate with you, and if they do, feel free to make them your own, borrow, share, indulge and smile):
Moments with my family are precious
Every experience has made me who I am
Dog is God spelled backwards
Don’t overthink
Everyone has a story to share
Life is tough, learn to love the toughness
M E D I T A T E
Inclusive, not exclusive
Life gets better under the sun
Time heals nothing, only healing heals
No thing is every thing
Chocolate is the answer, what was the problem?
Are you ready to bumpersticker your life? What are yours? Share!
Photo by Wr Heustis on Pexels
[1] McConaughey, Matthew. Greenlights. Headline Publishing Group, 2020, Pp 6
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