So Im at the store getting a (big) bag of dogfood. Instead of getting a buggy, I just decide to carry it. I get to the checkout and there is a nice older gentleman in front of me in his 70s. He, considerately, asked me if Id like to sit the bag down so that I dont have to stand and hold it.. I tell him thank you but Im ok, and jokingly say a little exercise never hurts. He laughs and jokingly asks if im training for holding heavy things lol I laugh and tell him no and then reply with its honestly just second nature after having kids, they always want to be held He smiles and starts talking about coming across his childrens first grade pictures just the other day. Now, I always hear they grow up so fast and I know.... It seems like only yesterday that I was laying in the hospital holding my sweet babies. But for some reason it hit me a little different today.... The man had a certain look in his eyes when he talked about looking at his childrens pictures from when they were younger and them now being in their 40s. He proceeded to tell me about a time hell never forget when he was in his 20s and he had an older gentleman tell him, he said, son, enjoy things life while youre still young. One day youll open your eyes at 70 years old and wonder where all the time went. He said that in his 20s he laughed it off...but now sees exactly what the man meant. I dont know why this struck me so funny today. I know that life gets crazy; we have jobs, bills, kids,spousal duties,hobbys...ect. Things happen, things come up, there are highs and there are lows, I get that! I also get that you can choose to live and enjoy life after the lows and the hard times. I dont, yet, know what its like to wake up at the age of 70 and look back at my life...but I hope that when I do... I dont have to say something like I wish I wouldve spent more QUALITY time with my kids and cherished their adolescent years or I wish I wouldve made more time for people I care about or I wish I wouldve travelled or even something as simple as I wish I wouldve not worried so much..... Unfortunately we all have a bucket list that dies with most of us with never even being checked off.... So... When it comes to my children... I see, by the time they reach the age of 18 there will have been 940 Saturdays to have fun and do things they enjoy..but 260 of them are gone by their 5th birthday..... Ouch.... Ill look at weekends a little differently now.. Especially Saturdays lol Ill watch them a little longer while they sleep.... Not complain when they want 5 more hugs and 10 more kisses... and try to be silly with them a little more than usual :) When it comes to myself.... Ill do my best to enjoy everything I possibly can without letting the small things, especially things that wont matter in 5 years or when Im 50, get to me... Cherish those who better my life and bring happiness and laughter...and stop making/wasting time for those who arent willing to do the same in return... I hope to always keep in mind how precious time is and how quickly it slips through our fingers without us being able to grasp any of it.... I forget these things...but not on purpose. Im thankful for the conversation I had with this gentleman. :) Our elders are full of stories filled with wisdom and life lessons... Ill make a point to conversate when the opportunity is given . :)
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 21:45:02 +0000