National Friendship and Family Week
I usually hate these type of emails. Usually b/c they want you to send it to 15 people and because they are usually not written very well. But when I got this one today it was different for being exactly opposite those two reasons. So in the spirit of the week, I want to share this with you.
Too many people put off something that brings them joy because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming, or are too ridgid to depart from their routine. Just think about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. Maybe we should try to be a little more flexible.
How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?
I cannot count the times I called my sister and said "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gas up and stammer "I can't. I have clothes on the line and my hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, because I had a late breakfast." Or my personal favorite: "It's Monday." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.
Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect. We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get junior toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids through college.
Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," "Someday when things are settled down a bit." My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.
Do something you WANT to, not something on your 'should do' list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told a child "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just a call to say "Hi"? When you hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift...thrown away. Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.
I add this last part for my Dad.....
"Life may not be the party we hoped for....but while we are here we might as well dance!"
Too many people put off something that brings them joy because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming, or are too ridgid to depart from their routine. Just think about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. Maybe we should try to be a little more flexible.
How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?
I cannot count the times I called my sister and said "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gas up and stammer "I can't. I have clothes on the line and my hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, because I had a late breakfast." Or my personal favorite: "It's Monday." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.
Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect. We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get junior toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids through college.
Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," "Someday when things are settled down a bit." My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.
Do something you WANT to, not something on your 'should do' list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told a child "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just a call to say "Hi"? When you hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift...thrown away. Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.
I add this last part for my Dad.....
"Life may not be the party we hoped for....but while we are here we might as well dance!"
posted by Sam at 11:05 AM
2 Comments:
Thank You! I needed to read that. Usually I skim through long ones because I don't want to leave the boys for too long, but I took the time, and read this. Thank you for putting it there. I love you and I hope to see you guys soon!!
-Kristen
What? I write too long for you? And you "SKIM" them? I think I'm offended! :-)
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