Being introspective and reflecting on life is something I think is not uncommon after dealing with loss or something difficult. I have spent the last two days really dwelling on life, not just my own life, but life itself. We often hear the phrase “life is short” or “stop and smell the roses” but after going through an experience where I can literally say that my life changed in the blink of an eye, I truly get it now. I understand how short and how precious life is, and unfortunately, I understand how quickly it can change.
I have always been a person who has enjoyed my life and not sat around waiting for it to pass me by, making excuses and saying “I’ll get to that later,” but now more than ever, I really will savor the details of my life. The little things, the big things, nature, the sunset, the sunrise, the smell of the air after it rains, morning cuddles with my puppy, the few moments when Henry will let me hold him, goodbye hugs and kisses from my husband, bites of food, sips of wine, views of Mount Rainier, laughter, hugs from friends, the sound of the wind, and most importantly, the time I spend with those who matter most to me.
There are things in everyday life that matter and things that don’t. I would like to focus my energy on those things that do matter and make each day and each moment meaningful. I am not saying that I need to climb a mountain or go on an adventure every day, but making the minutes and hours count, not just passing the time.
Living in the moment is something I’d like to strive to do more often. I’d like to continue checking things off of my bucket list {perhaps I should actually write my bucket list down first!} and really make the most of every day. I just never know what tomorrow holds, let alone the next minute, and I don’t want to give myself the opportunity to live in regret that I did or said something I shouldn’t have and can’t take back, or that I didn’t do or say something I should have and can’t now. Life is just too short and too unpredictable to hold grudges, to lose your temper, to be mean to someone you love, or to to just let it pass you by, missing those moments that make life full.