I couldn’t wait to go to Kindergarten. Freedom from my mommy for half a day! I couldn’t wait for first grade; full days of friends, glorious school lunches. I couldn’t wait for middle school; lockers, class changes. I couldn’t wait for high school! More independence, senior boys, and I was so done with those nerds from middle school. Then I couldn’t wait for 16 when I could finally drive…more freedom! I couldn’t wait for COLLEGE. Ugh, I was so done with high school and needed my independence; after all I was 18 now. I couldn’t wait to graduate; get my first real job, make some money, be an ‘adult’. I couldn’t wait to get married, be done with dating, set up our first house.
But then suddenly, my continual drive for the future stopped. My AHA moment was when I met ‘the one’. My ‘one’ was eleven years older then me though so from the moment that I knew he was my ‘one’, I was gripped with fear that he’s going to die before me and I only had so much time to enjoy him. And with that, everything for me shifted. I was no longer living for the future, waiting for the next exciting thing to happen, the next stage of life to start. I was panicked that life was happening too fast and time was slipping away. One day during this panic, I read four simple words and realized that even though I was nearly thirty and had always been looking for the next thing to happen, it wasn’t too late to shift my priorities. Starting that day, I tried my very best to always be in the present.
Through this simple shift, my time is so much more enjoyed because I am appreciating the present moments in my life. I’m so excited for the future and believe that great things are yet to come. But the greatest things for me are in the present. Sometimes momentous, like the first time my son said mama- that moment was amazing. Sometimes they’re minor, like the guy this morning singing the Beatles in the airport, not a big moment but it made me smile at 5:30am. I love them all, the big and the small moments, because they’re my moments that make up my life and make my life so wonderful.
So don’t always look for that next big thing to happen, meeting the ‘right’ person, getting the ‘right’ job, finally moving to the ‘right’ place. Work hard for all those things that matter to you, but just as important, challenge yourself daily to enjoy the present and:
Live in the moment,
Live in the moment,
Live in the moment!
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I love this, Shanna. I once asked my grandma on her birthday which age was best. She replied, “Every age is the best age.”
That’s awesome! It’s such a simple thing but when it clicked for me, it was monumental. Glad you enjoyed~