Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Life Is What Happens When You're Busy Making Other Plans...


Yesterday as I was taking a shower I started to think about my life. (One does that a lot on the "other" side of the hill.) I wondered...if I was allowed to live just one day over again - which day would I pick. I tend to get philosophical in the shower sometimes...


It was kind of an "Our Town" moment. Has anyone read that book or seen the movie? It was originally a play and I have to say it is one of my all time favorites. It's about a girl that has died and is given the chance to go back and relive just one day in her life. I'll reveal more later.


So as I'm sudsing up my armpits, I'm thinking about which day I'd pick. Would it be just an ordinary day? Or maybe a Christmas Eve at my Grandparents. Yeah...that would be good. Or no. Maybe my wedding day. Or the day my first daughter was born. No...as good as that was...there was a lot of pain involved.... The panoramic screen in my mind played out day after day and I just couldn't decide.


Want to know the wierd thing though? There were days that I skipped right over - that at the time they were happening I thought were the most important days to ever occur! I'm thinking like...old boyfriend days... Like when the guy I was totally enamored with finally asked me out in high school. At the time nothing else in the whole world mattered. But would I relive that day? Not in a heart beat. Or the day my new living room furniture arrived. I'd never had brand new furniture and was excited all week waiting for it. Would I pick that day? It wasn't even in the running. Or how about the day I reached my goal at weight watchers (way back when.) Nope. As good as that was - it wasn't a contender.


I guess my point is - that sometimes the things we pin our hopes on and devote so much energy to - aren't really all that grand in the scheme of life. The days I was torn over repeating were the days I was with people I loved. People who loved me. Ordinary days. Days that life was happening and I didn't even know it. Didn't even appreciate it.


Which brings me back to "Our Town." The main character realizes as she is given privy to observing herself in an ordinary day - how much she missed. The little nuances of life that slip past us when we're not looking. Or maybe looking - but not seeing.


My point to all of this is (and I've repeated this theme so very many times in this blog) is that life is such a gift and we need to keep our focus on what really matters. And yes it matters to me that I lose the extra weight. It's not good for me. But lately I feel as if I've devoted every waking minute to it and I'm not appreciating everything else!


It's easy to get trapped into the "life will be better when I'm thinner" mode. Because truthfully... some things will be better. But that's no excuse to put today - or this week - or this month - or even this year on hold until we're at goal. Because frankly - there's a whole lot happening right now that we won't get back again. Ever. People die. Relationships end. Kids grow up. And in between all that - life happens.


Often times when I watch old family videos - I see things that I never noticed before. Things I should have at the time. They were right before my eyes! And I missed them! And so it is with life.


So my challenge for all of you this day is - don't start waiting to live your life for that day when the weight is gone. Live it now! The weight will come off. In the meantime...yes.... we will blog about our efforts and encourage one another and glory in our triumphs. But don't forget that somewhere in between all of that - your clock is ticking. We are all allotted only so many minutes you know.... so make the most of each one!

14 comments:

RunningNan said...

Great post! I live my life day to day. I always sit down to smell the roses and see the little things. I think it was getting my dog that really brought it to light. I realize that this dog won't be with me forever, so I don't take a moment for granted! I never pass up a chance to walk her, or take her for a ride, or go to the dog park. I love to just sit outside and relax and watch the world around me. I've chosen people that I want as my family. I've reconnected with other family because life is just too short.

Now... To re-live any day that I want? I would have to pick something that I was doing with my dad. It doesn't matter what it is, just any day with him! Ok.. now I'm gonna cry! ha ha

Erin said...

You are such a smart lady. I tend to miss some of the little things because of the big thing. But that is one of the many things I'm working on right now!

Human Microbiome Search Engine said...

My wife died very suddenly five years ago, after 35 years of marriage. If I could live any day over again, it would just be any day that I spent with her. Your insights are terrific. Thanks for sharing.

RunningNan said...

We totally do... He was sick all of my life, so I never took it for granted. I always spent time with him. He was my best buddy in the whole world! Just to have another day with him and be carefree would be great!

Felicia said...

Ya what you said! Wonderful post! I spent a lot of years wasting time. Waiting to live instead of just getting out there and living. No more. Every day is an awesome day. Parts of it may not be that great but lol thats part of the "life happens" thing.

Great post!
Have a wonderful day!
*huggles*
=0)

Pattie said...

Oh Lora, I love this post. It's one of your best! Maybe because the theme resonates so strongly with this fellow person of a "certain age."

I do want to get healthy and I do want to lose weight, but I do NOT want to make that the focus of my world. There's just so much more to life than counting calories.

Thanks for the lovely reminder.

Unknown said...

What an awesome post and you have such an eloquent way with your words. You're right I wouldn't choose those days at a teenager that meant everything at the time. I don't do a lot of things because of my weight. It's my own insecurities, I don't want to be the center of attention and make a fool of myself trying something new (windsailing, jumping out of a perfectly good plane - not likely, but maybe, jetskiing, barrel racing...so many things). It's always well I will try that when I am thinner.

To relive any day I want? I would have to pick something that I was doing with my Dad, just like Nan. I miss him so much. Maybe the carnival, where I got that stuffed dog that I desperatly wanted. I still have it and it's been almost 25 years.

No more tear jerking topics when I am PMS'ing, darn you :P

Heather said...

that was a great post! I loved it because so much of it is true. I am the same way when I think about it..I woudlnt relive many of the moments I had as a younger thinner person like my first kiss or drivers license, etc. I also think that if this IS what is important to you, then thats ok that it means that much.

Diana Swallow said...

Great post! WE do get so wrapped up in things that at the end of the day just aren't that important.

Maybe now that I'm older but I'm so aware of every minute and I do consider them gifts.

Irish Mom said...

Awesome post!! Not sure which day I'd relive, probably when my mother was alive and happy!! You are so right about how we let life pass us by, today I am going to stop and sell the roses!!

Irish Mom said...

Awesome post!! Not sure which day I'd relive, probably when my mother was alive and happy!! You are so right about how we let life pass us by, today I am going to stop and sell the roses!!

Anonymous said...

Awesome post! D

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful post. Well written and very worth thinking about. I'm looking forward to reading more of your blog. I just joined HYC and had no idea there was such a great community of bloggers out there doing what you are doing.

Thanks and nice to meet you.

Anonymous said...

This is an amazing post. This is something I try so hard to remember...and too often forget. You never get a single minute back.

With me it's my kids. I have the rest of my life to lose this weight - I'm not at a life-threatening stage now - but I only have a few short years of raising them and helping them become the people they will be. It's gotta balance out.

Thanks!

V.