The Gift of Time
I was grabbing a few snacks at the airport today and skimming over the magazine aisle when I came across the current issue of TIME magazine which had the title, “The Top 100 Most Famous Historical Photographs.”
Being drawn to history in general, and a love for great photos, I picked it up and started skimming through the pages.
I started to think about what a cool topic that was! The top 100 photos! Made me wonder if I were to put together this type of project in my own life and could only pick 100 photos to capture my whole life and the generations of my family before me, which ones would I choose?
To put together a project and pick the top 100 photos would of course take a long time but WOULDN’T THAT BE COOL!
Looking through photographs is such a fun way of spending time reminiscing.
Makes you remember things you had forgotten. Miss things that have passed. Reminds you of some beautiful things that have transpired in your life, and I’m sure reminded you of loss and the heartache that followed.
I know for me, looking back at photos would also present a timeline of how much I’ve grown as a person and the things I’ve accomplished. What a great feeling!
Something so visual that has so much power – a photo!
Continuing my walk toward my airline gate, my thoughts went to my kiddos! I thought, what photos would they pick if they were assigned to this project? With all the wonderful technology we have and such great cameras on our phones, the number of images they take could almost give us a sense of a day-to-day timeline, versus a historical album. Still, if they had to limit it, which ones would they choose I wondered?
This concept is so cool because it allows for a moment of pause. A moment to evaluate yourself, your life, and your loved ones.
Made me think of the old family photo albums I used to see on my grandmother's coffee table. I ALWAYS loved skimming through them and looking back at my dad, aunts, uncles, and cousins to see what things used to be like.
Even just a few days ago, my sons and I were celebrating a special Christmas event at my grandmother's house. I came upon a moment when my older sons and a cousin were crowded around an old photo hanging in the hallway. It was a family portrait taken when my father was about 17, which included himself, his 12 other siblings (my aunts and uncles), and his parents (my grandparents).
That specific photo has hung in the hallway in the same spot on the wall for as long as I’ve been alive, over 40-plus years. I remember when I was in high school, having moments where I stared at the same photo in deep contemplation.
The current debate that was taking place between the cousins was about ‘who was who’ in the photo.
As my 92-year-old grandmother walked around the corner they said, “The expert herself!” Loving that she had joined them, a conversation took off as they pointed to each person in the picture, putting names and faces together.
I felt like a fly on the wall, which was perfect to just stand back and eavesdrop on such a delightful moment.
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Time is such a funny thing.
We literally only have this exact moment that we are currently in. Even 10 minutes into the future is not upon us yet, and 10 minutes ago is already stacked in our past.
I suppose in a sophisticated way we could capitalize on a more abstract way of thinking and argue that the word “present” or “current” could encompass 24 hours as a form of the present.
If you lived in my household, we would enjoy dissecting the nuances of that exact theory and pinpointing all the things to think about to come to an informed conclusion about what the word “present” means.
But for now, I’ll just stick to the basics.
It’s so easy to take things for granted; slowing down a bit can be a real gift.
If I were to live a long and beautiful life to the age of 90, I’m currently not quite halfway. To me, this is exciting because it means I still have the ability to continue to make the most of my life. It also makes me a bit nervous because I hope by this point, I’ve set a good foundation for things to come and not completely screwed everything up! LOL!
Thinking this way makes me want to go hug my kids a little more. Makes me want to say more kind words. Makes me want to cook more of their favorite dinners. Makes me want to write more articles and inspire people to live a little more intentionally.
It's really fun to be doing what I was created to do. I get to share my GREAT BIG HUGE HEART with you and light a lamp for your feet to show you the way in dark times.
Remember, that time is a gift. We don’t know when our time will be up or what will dramatically change in the next year or ten years.
Today really is such a gift!
Over the last few years, I’ve leaned into living in a way where I choose to wake up with gratitude, set intentions for the day, fix the things I can control that need changing, let go of things I can’t control, pray, trust, and show up with as much courage as I can, to live the day to the best of my abilities.
Living this way, I end up with a lot of joy that just seeps out of me! Sure, I have problems. Sure, I have struggles or things that don’t go the way I had planned, but I can move through them with much more ease when I have joy that is radiating out of my pours.
When I look at all the media and craziness around me, I just think, I’m so glad I’m me because it is such a great way to live, intentionally thankful and purposing to enjoy today for the gift that it is.
All this makes me not worry about the passing of time or the anxiety of the future. It keeps everything close and in its correct perspective.
What would you do differently if you woke up knowing today was your last day? How would you show up differently for yourself, or your loved ones?
This concept is the reality that we truly live in.
Not tomorrow.
Not next year.
No hoping, wishing, wanting.
Just today… Only today!
