Have you lost that loving feeling?

Do you remember the movie Top Gun? It’s one of my all-time favorites (besides Rocky, of course), full of action, passion, and love. There’s a scene near the beginning when Maverick and Goose pick up Charlie (played by Kelly McGillis) at a bar singing “You’ve lost that loving feeling.” The energy and sparkle in that scene was incredible, a reminder to all of us of the importance of keeping the spark and sizzle in everything we do.

Have you lost that loving feeling? What could be worse than living without passion and purpose in your life? Do you need to put some spark back into your workouts, your work life, your relationships, and your daily life? When you think about it, we spend our entire adult lives creating the problem. Just look at what we’ve done: we’ve worked for years (if not decades) establishing our careers, we admire and emulate those who have a stable home life, we set our exercise schedule so we don’t fall out of it, we work to create lifelong relationships with family, friends and other loved ones. Established, stable, locked up, for life – Yikes! How about a little snap, crackle and pop?

All this effort to build a box around you… and then what? Do you live happily ever after with your daily routines? NOT! Most of us crave the spark and the sizzle. We need fireworks from time to time. One of our biggest challenges is learning to build just enough “box” to create a strong, reliable foundation. Just don’t lock yourself in! My goal with this article is to share with you some tips on how to “keep the fire burning” and balance your need for stability and routine with lifelong passion, energy, and joy to keep that loving feeling alive.

o Focus on your physical health. There is a saying that goes, “When you look good, you play good.” Invest at least 20 minutes in your fitness every day and you will go a long way in creating your body’s natural high through the release of endorphins. Combine it this summer. Take a surf lesson with your kids, go kayaking, enjoy a vacation in a big city, and walk everywhere you go. Work with a trainer a couple of times a week to change the routine, do yoga on the beach, explore the bike paths of your city… Get out there and get out of the box!

o Take a gap year from routines. Pick an area of ​​your life that has lost its spark and shake things up. The opportunities are endless: unplug the TV, open your home to a foreign exchange student, cancel the resort in Hawaii and go camping or rent an RV, vacation in a treehouse (no kidding, you can do this in Oregon) , join an organic cooperative, train for your first triathlon, challenge yourself with an hour of physical activity five or six days a week. Pick something and get started today!

o Put your career under the microscope. Does your career need a makeover? The risks are not just for young people. Whether a job change, self-employment, or special project or partnership is the right risk for you, go for it! Stop isolating yourself in the corner office and rediscover the passion of your early career. Reach out to the organization and surround yourself with new voices and ideas to challenge your thinking. Stop confusing critics with critical thinkers!

o Experience a little sensory overload. Slide a little closer to the edge and have fun. We have a new ballpark in San Diego, and one of the residential towers overlooking the park has a large party deck for owners and their guests to enjoy the San Diego Padres amid beautiful views of downtown. The post-game fireworks show is sensational. You are not seeing it; you are in the middle! You are so close; you feel like you can reach out and touch the spark and the color. Take a ride on a roller coaster or zip line, watch a scary movie, try a hot stone massage, attend an outdoor jazz festival, curl up under the stars and hold hands with that special someone. Enlighten your senses!

o Let “date night” recharge your relationship battery. Sunday afternoon in the park, Tuesday morning working out, Thursday night dinner and a movie… Whatever you choose, it’s amazing what a quiet meal can do without the kids, a simple night out. away, a long weekend or just a walk on the beach. made for you. If you are in the routine of working non-stop, it is essential to prioritize your main relationship. This is the last place you want to lose that loving feeling! Don’t go months without spending quality time together.

Eat, Pray, Love is an award-winning book by Elizabeth Gilbert that teaches about many aspects of life. Most importantly, she teaches about self love. Loving feelings start within you, so it is absolutely essential to “put on your oxygen mask first.” Take care of YOU before everything and everyone else. Only then, can you put the snap, crackle and pop into everyday life. Fireworks aren’t just for the 4th of July. Blow the lid off your box and start FEELING THE LOVE TODAY!