Enjoy Every Moment

The Present – It is a Gift

Dave, who was my biggest inspiration in life, spoke little and yet said a lot. This was one of his favourite quotes and he literally lived it, every day:

Yesterday is gone. It is past. It is history.
Tomorrow is the future. It is a mystery.
Today is here. It is present! Treat it as a gift!

To wake to a beautiful sunrise! Is there anything better than that? But then again to wake to a delightful snow storm knowing you are cozy and warm inside is also wonderful. When you open your eyes and you know you can get out of bed on your own steam and breathe unassisted, it is definitely a gift. Today is a new day and a fresh start. Whatever happened yesterday can be set aside. It’s gone and no longer matters in the scheme of things. This moment is now yours to do with as you want – to enjoy, to relax, to be the best you can be, to give back wherever you can, to learn, play and do, and to make things right if things need to be righted.

So what are my sisters up to this morning I wonder?

One is on her way to Fiji – Smack!
Another is getting ready to participate in a walk for the homeless.
Another just finished making a beautiful quilt for her grandchild.
And, the other is digging a tunnel to the road (she has 15 to 20 feet of snow in the driveway). Now that is a gift of another sort!

“IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER” – by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer.)

“Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything. My answer was no, but then I thought about it and changed my mind.”

There were many wonderful quotes in that book. Here are just a few that resonated with me this morning.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

There would have been more I love yous … more I’m sorrys … more I’m listenings … but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it. look at it and really see it … try it on … live it … exhaust it … and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.”

Now don’t those quotes really make you think!

My Christmas decorations are still up. There’s a vacuum in the middle of the living room still waiting to capture the dog hairs and a scrubbing bucket full of cold soapy water that didn’t quite make it to those spots on the floor. Yesterday I dropped by for a quick stop to see a friend and left the car running – 50 minutes later I remembered. Oops! Must pay more attention! (Squirrel!)

I started writing this blog last week and am just finishing it this morning. So slow on the uptake it would seem, but really I was just too busy. Mind you, there were so many distractions and I was having such a lot of fun in that busyness. There was a day at the Twillingate stadium with my little granddaughter (it was COLD); a night out with her to celebrate her 8th birthday; breakfast with our son and his family; a visit with my Mother-in-Law who will soon be 91 years old; designing a new ornament; helping a friend with her website … so many things in the run of those seven days.

And when I stopped to finish writing this piece this morning, I realized I really have been enjoying every moment. How about you?

Audrey Peyton

February 5, 2019 at 10:12 am

A great read— you make me smile!!! Love it!!!

Beulah

February 5, 2019 at 10:44 am

Thank you Audrey. Now that’s the BEST … to make you smile – though honestly I haven’t really seen you without one. You are always smiling.

Rita

February 5, 2019 at 10:59 am

My beautiful friend, love, love, love this! Everything is spot on! Keep them coming! Always enjoy reading your work! Life is indeed a gift 💝! We definitely have to stop & smell the roses 🌹 🥀 ❤️

Beulah
February 5, 2019 at 11:54 am

We sure do, Rita! Right now I just have to empty that scrubbing bucket because it’s been there awhile and definitely doesn’t smell like roses at the moment.

Gigi

February 5, 2019 at 5:13 pm

Loved it, sounds very much like my days here lately. And I recognized myself in your daily activities too.

Beulah
February 6, 2019 at 5:34 am

Ah! I wondered if you would notice. Your days are certainly pretty busy that’s for sure. Good luck with the website.