A few years ago, driving to work one morning, Trace Adkins’ song You’re Gonna Miss This came on the radio and, boy, did I get emotional. I was at a point in my life where I was simply unhappy. Or perhaps more than unhappy, I was weary. There were dreams I had for my life that weren’t coming to pass and I focused most of my attention on what was going wrong instead of what was going right.
Yes, I had a great job working with some great people, but I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. Yes, I had an amazing husband, but we were too busy and I wanted a calmer life. Yes we had a home, but I wanted a dog and babies in it. At the time, I don’t think I realized it, but looking back I can see how miserable I allowed myself to be.
Turning Around
Being thankful goes a long way in helping us pull ourselves out of emotional ruts. If I had thanked God for the opportunity to go to grad school instead of focusing on the stress of working and going to school, I might have realized that there was a bright light at the end of the tunnel (and it wasn’t an oncoming train ~smile~). If I could go back and talk to myself at that time, I would assure myself that those exhausting days would soon be over and that new challenges would emerge.
The song which made me tear up on my morning commute started with an eighteen-year-old girl and her intense desire to get out of the house and be on her own. Her mom, knowing that feeling all too well, told her to enjoy her youth because she would miss it. Later, in the song she’s married and living in an apartment, but again, she wasn’t satisfied. She wanted babies and a house. Her dad also advised her to slow down and enjoy what she has in her life right now. Fast forward a few more years, and as you might expect, she was in her home with the kids she wanted so badly. They were crying and screaming while the plumber was working on the water heater. She apologized for all the craziness and then he began talking about his kids who were grown and gone. Even the plumber advised her to take some time to enjoy what she had right in front of her. The chorus still gets to me:
You’re gonna miss this.
You’re gonna want this back.
You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast.
These are some good times, so take a good look around.
You may not know it now, but you’re gonna miss this.
Drink in the Moments Now
Most of us need to be reminded to stop looking forward and look around. No, Eric and I don’t have children yet, but we do have friends, a lovable puppy resting on the floor beside me, and each other. I’m sure once kids come along, we will miss the days we could sleep in, watch an entire movie, and go to the bathroom by ourselves. I miss being a teenager and going out to eat with friends after church on Sunday and Wednesday nights. I miss being able to jump in the car with a friend and drive to the beach. I miss lazy Saturdays in college when my friends and I would watch movies, go shopping, or order pizza.
Those were good times and I occasionally wish I could jump in a time machine and enjoy those days again; but, I also know that ten years from now I’ll probably look back on these days with fondness and wish I could enjoy them again too. So instead of dreaming about the past or longing for the future, I can drink in the moments I have right now!
Enjoy Your Current Blessings
You can enjoy these days too. What are you looking forward to? Is it keeping you from appreciating what you have right now? Are you living at home and can’t wait to get out on your own? Are you single and thinking, “If I could just get married I’d be happy?” Are you married and thinking, “If we could just buy a house or have kids I’d be happy?”
I challenge you, just as I challenge myself, to take a step back, look at all the blessings you have in your life right now, and enjoy them fully. If you are able to get in your car without having to buckle babies in, enjoy it. If you have to take those extra few minutes to buckle the kids in, look at those sweet faces, and enjoy them. No matter where you are, take a few minutes and delight in your life. What will you miss about right now?
{This post is dedicated to my dear friend who, at the time this was written, is currently on her way to Ireland – you know who you are. ~smile~ I’m so proud of you for grabbing life by the horns and having some adventures NOW! Life is happening this very moment. Live it up, girl!}
Do you tend to look past what you have now and toward what you’re hoping will come in the future?