As the months and years seem to go by faster, it’s time to slow down and appreciate the special times and the people we share them with.
By Linda Commito
Time goes by whether we are noticing it or not. How often have we asked: “Where did the day go, or the week or month?” Have you ever said, “I can’t believe another year has gone by” as you get a new calendar to mark off your days on this Earth? I have years-worth of calendars to remind myself how busy I’ve been, but did I enjoy or appreciate those days as much as I could have?
At times I feel as though I were on a merry-go-round, like I’d experienced as a child. But now it feels like the merry-go-round has sped up, and I go past the brass ring more often, but never manage to grab it. And the faces in the crowd have changed. Some are gone and most have become older or more blurred.
It started out being fun, but now I’d like to get off and experience life more. I’ve been appreciating more time to walk amongst the gardens under the banyan trees at Selby Gardens in my hometown of Sarasota, FL, or putting my feet in the beach sand looking for seashells. More importantly is enjoying the time talking to or being with those who are such a special part of my life. But many aren’t there anymore, and those who are don’t always remember those special moments and days.
With those whom I’m sharing my life, I find the moments ever more precious, perhaps because we realize that there aren’t as many left as we once had. The cycles of months and years seem to be going by faster, and there is nothing we can do but to slow down and appreciate the special times and the people we are sharing them with.
I have been paying extra attention to the promptings or messages to call or visit someone dear in my life, lest they slip away unexpectedly or way too soon. It has been happening more often, and I learn too late that the time to say “I love you” is gone.
Perhaps I realize that I was holding the brass ring in my hand all the time and just had to stop and appreciate the loving smile of Mom as I rode by, or the sweet, funny cards from Dad when I lived away, as well as the affection, the loyalty and love—given and received in relationships throughout the years. Even if these moments didn’t last, the memories did.
For me, the most valuable message is loving and appreciating who and what I have in hand and heart NOW. And being on this spinning Earth is like our version of a merry-go-round. We may want to get off but are usually grateful to just be on it at all.
May we all have enough time to share our lives in ways that will create ripples of love long after we’ve gone.
Linda Commito, author, speaker, entrepreneur, consultant and teacher, is passionate about her vision to leave this world a kinder, more loving, and interconnected place. Linda’s award-winning book of inspirational stories, Love Is the New Currency, demonstrates how we can each make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others through simple acts of love and kindness. Her latest project, the card game Just Ask 1 2 3, was inspired by a desire to connect people of all different ages, beliefs and lifestyles to share our individuality and find commonality. Linda also created “Kindness Starts with Me,” a program, book and website for children. For more information visit http://www.LoveistheNewCurrency.com or visit the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Justask123game.
