As I sit down to type this we are about to end yet another month. Believe it or not Summer is in full swing and our weekend plans for the 4th of July are made. It literally seems like yesterday we were rushing around here trying to get Algebra lessons completed so that we could be finished with school. And now we are talking about July 4th.
This has been an interesting year for our family. We have been plagued with more vehicle troubles than I can even add on one hand. Our house was damaged with hail. (And we are STILL waiting for the contractors to come and repair.) We are watching the circle-of-life take place as my husband's grandmothers are living in their 9th decade. And we have watched and comforted as loved ones have dealt with death and serious illness. My sister-in-law and I have a joke that we really don't want to wish time away, but seriously...2011 really has been one of those years we'd rather not relive.
However, despite all of the challenges this year have been thrown our way it is hard not to step back and think, "Where in the world does time go?"
I have been reading the book, "One Month to Live Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life". The authors are Kerry & Chris Shook. If you haven't read it, I would recommend it.
The book focuses on four principals for a "No-Regrets" life.
- LIVE PASSIONATELY
- LIVE COMPLETELY
- LEARN HUMBLY
- LEAVE BOLDLY
Time is not slowing down. There are still 24 hours in a day 365 days to a year. My children are growing at a pace that I was NEVER prepared for. And just to let you in on a little secret, my husband celebrated his Birthday last month and it was THEN that I realized that I am actually an ENTIRE YEAR older than what I honestly was thinking I was. I only have 1/2 a year of being 35....and in November I'll be an entire 1 1/2 years older than I originally thought I was.
I want to make this life count. Do you? Do you Live Passionately? Love Completely? Learn Humbly? And what are you doing today that is creating a legacy that will impact generations? Do you struggle with any (or all of these?) I would love to get some conversation going with all ages as to what you value in your life and how do you make the most of your time.
I don't want to get to the end of my life
and find that I have just lived the length of it.
I want to have lived the width of it as well.
~Diane Ackerman
As you know, I love love love that book and I think I will need to re-read it! The biggest thing for me has been enjoying the little things. We get so caught up in having the perfect (and clean) house and the best meals for our family...when in reality, our kids (and usually our husbands) could care less. If Jackson wants to roam outside and blow bubbles, well, let's blow bubbles. Let's go to the park and be kids. Because it's a precious time and we only get it once. I realize that in seeing your kids grow up...I remember being "Leee" to Ms. Hayley and when I see the affection Jackson has for Natty I feel like that was only a few "days" ago that Hayley and I had that little bond. (Omg, I'm going to start crying thank you!) But life is just like the Bible says, "a vapor." Here and gone so quickly.
ReplyDeleteOne of the other quotes I liked from that book was, "Why do we wait too send flowers to people once their dead?" True!! We could make someone's day here on earth but we don't even think about the little things!! I'm trying to start more of that, too!
I couldn't agree more. It is so hard to not get caught up on the "every-day" things that need to get done in life. I find myself forgetting to stop and take time to enjoy the little things such as blowing bubbles or reading a book with one of the kids.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest thing that this book is doing for me is to just remembering to "be in the moment" and to live each day. We must take advantage of the time we have NOW! Not tomorrow or next week but NOW!