The word ‘lifestyle’ is used by a lot of people. Not a lot of people seem to recognize what’s behind this simple word. What’s a lifestyle? Get up, eat breakfast, shower, go to work or school, come home, eat dinner, watch television, and go back to bed? No, that’s not a lifestyle, that’s a routine. One can choose to live a lifestyle that is or isn’t routine. That’s where the notion of a lifestyle comes into play: when someone chooses to live as they desire, it’s generally regarded as their lifestyle choice.
One can be rebellious or conformist inside their chosen lifestyle. Most notable lifestyle choices involve people stepping outside the norms. Bikers run around on loud motorcycles, making plenty of noise and drawing attention to themselves with boorish behavior. They aren’t known for getting up early, but they are known for staying up late and partying. That’s a pretty distinct lifestyle choice.
Surfers are also known to live a certain lifestyle. They spend every conceivable waking hour – often from before sunrise – trying to catch waves. Typically tanned and hardly ever overweight (it’s hard to bring food onto the surfboard), they’re always on top of weather patterns elsewhere, which will drive waves to their shoreline.
Even mountain bikers have their own lifestyle and culture. Pedaling around in the mountains, they seek tranquility of setting while creating a massive heart-racing scene, since mountain biking is so strenuous. To these folks, gears, tires, and metal constitute a life well spent.
Do you know what lifestyle appeals to you?
