The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.
~Ivy Baker Priest
This is a short story about the importance of taking the time to appreciate the sweeter moments of your life rather than rushing through them or discounting little joys.
Yesterday was a very happy “mommy day” for me. My son wanted to dress up as a fireman. His red plastic fireman hat was the starting point. As he is “all about” the sharp, pointy, spear-like gear to any costume, he was on a hunt for a premo fire ax. After numerous failed attempts to turn his toys into a satisfactory one, I came up with the idea to make one out of cardboard. It was so simple and yet made us both so happy. For him it was just what he was looking for. Me? I was happy because I supposed he couldn’t do too much damage with that cardboard ax. After suiting up with his boots and coat and feeling like a real fireman, we were off to the park to find him fire pole. (He was upset the night before that his dad and I couldn’t set one up in the living room.) Yes it was chilly but his enthusiasm was all the warmth the two of us needed for an adventure.
We arrived at the park and he ran for that “fire pole” with all his heart. Of course I was ready with the camera. After snapping the perfect shot, I put down my bag and joined in on the play. As my feet hit the ground after my first slide down the pole, I looked up and noticed the sweetest older woman watching the two of us play together. She was smiling and clapping for both of us. Of course I felt a little silly but I couldn’t help from smiling back. We ended up chatting a bit and then went back to playing firefighters. As we walked past her car to leave the park, she called out to us… “this is the best time of your life.” From the way she spoke and watched us, I of course assumed she was wistful for her youth. As I walked away though, I wondered whose time of life did she mean. Hoyt’s life which is full of play and ease or mine who is filled with love and nurturing but also sacrifice, challenge and a longer for at least a little more grown-up "play"?
The conclusion I came up with is “now.” Now is the only time of your life you really have. There may be parts of your life that challenge you, and drain you, and even make you feel sick sometimes. But this is it. This moment in time is all you really have. I’m so grateful for all the teachers that I’ve had who have encouraged me to make the most of each passing moment because they all do pass. It’s really up to each of us to continue to re-invent our lives and our approach to life so that we can enjoy or at least feel fulfilled by the way we choose to live our lives
