Someday is not a day of the week!
We have moved a lot in our married life together. We jokingly tell people that we are nomads moving from place to place wherever the work leads us. We have lived in St. Louis twice, Dallas twice, Pittsburgh and Washington State. Because we have moved so much, we have learned not to put things off for “someday”. We tend to impulsively and enthusiastically live in each moment. As a result, we carry special memories with us from each place we have lived. Being so transient, I love memories. They are easy to pack. I can get them out whenever I feel the need to reminisce. They are also in abundant supply!
There are only a couple of areas in our lives where we have been extravagant. We don’t drive fancy cars or have the latest technological gadgets; but one area where we have chosen to spend money extravagantly is on making memories. One Mother’s Day, we had a limo pick up our moms and take all of us to a fine restaurant for brunch. One year, we took my sister and her children on a Caribbean cruise with us. We have created a memorable life together and hopefully shared some of it with others. As we see the time we have together winding down, we seek opportunities to make more memories. These memories may not be as extravagant as a vacation or a limo ride but they will be special nonetheless. We cherish the time we have as a family at the dinner table simply talking and laughing.
As we enter the holiday season, I hope you will choose to make memories. Don’t waste time and get stressed out worrying about finding the perfect gift, you already own it. It is the gift of yourself, your time, your talents, your creativity. Instead of visiting stores this season, visit the elderly to make some moments that will mean way more to them than any store-bought gift. Instead of investing in things, invest in your family by slowing down this holiday to take the time to bake cookies with them or create traditions with them that they will remember long after the gift wrap has faded.
Whether we want to admit it or not, we are all transient beings just passing through this world en-route to our final destination. As loved ones move on from this place, our memories will remain – let’s make some good ones!