Time To Exhale

 

I was caught up.

Caught in the middle of all the “I have to’s” “I really should” oh “I just can’t-do that’s”.  Deadlines, some real, some self-imposed kept piling up.  Robbing me of sleep, stealing my time, my joy.

There’s always so much to do, always another deadline.  Never enough time.  But I must forge ahead, keep up appearances. Go! Go! Go!

I found myself stressing about petty things. Reflecting that life was not fair.  I was feeling sad and defeated too easily, too often.

But then I read the news.  The heartbreaking, earth-shattering, take my breath away and leave me in tears news.  I’m angry, crushed, sad for the world, for our children, for everyone directly affected by the tragedies that continue to affect all of us.  And then I read this…

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

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

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

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

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

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

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

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 never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s“… More “I’m sorry’s“.

…But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.

Author Erma Bombeck

 

Clearly, it’s time to step back.

Relax.

Breathe.

Seek out the good.

Be thankful for the heroes and the peacekeepers.

Make time to sit and really chat with my girls.

Carve out time for coffee with my girlfriends.

While away the hours by the fire with my Hubby.

Stop. Worrying.

Time to let go of this idea of what the house, the yard, what the world should look like.  Because, who cares?

Live in the moment.

Forgive and forget.

Trust and let go.

Find the joy in the unexpected.

Not every day is perfect, but it’s time to be thankful for the good and the bad, the pain and the tears,….because it means I still have hope for tomorrow.

It’s time to be thankful for every single blessing.  To send prayers of strength to those who need it most.

It’s time to exhale.

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