What Would You Want?

 

If someone came up to you and asked you out of the blue, if you could have anything in the world, what would it be? What would come to mind?

Back in my 20’s, I will admit, I would have said more money. Of course, then I could travel leisurely to where I want, pay off our home, or not really have anything to worry about. But time changes you. Growing older changes you. Having an open mind and looking at the big picture changes you. Having a child changes you. Realizing how darn precious life is, I mean really, really thinking about it and realizing it changes you. Being mindful changes you. At least it did me.

Here I am in my 30’s and my answer has nothing to do with money, but everything to do with time. Assuming I keep my good health, because really what good is anything if you are not in good health, I’d say time.

Time you can never get back and although some days and years might seem endless to some, to me I can’t believe how time flies. It’s so true, the older you get the faster time goes. And it’s true once you have a child the years just fly. There is no way my little baby is pushing 4! I mean really, when did that happen? That saying it happens over night seems so true.

Yet the truth is, time is the same for every single one of us that roams this earth. It’s the same for a brand new baby who looks to this world with delight and wonder, it’s the same for a business man or woman who’s climbing the corporate ladder, it’s the same for a mother with three children who’s at her wits end on how to makes ends meet. It’s the same for an old soul in their 90’s who can’t do much but move a cup of tea to their lips. Lips that once spoke of wonder and delight and dreamed what their life would once become. They sit, steady now looking back over time. Perhaps wishing of more…time and health.

Your answer will be different from mine, or anyone else’s. Even if it is more time you wish for, why? What makes you want more besides the sheer awesomeness of life itself? For me, that’s part of it, I just love life. But it’s much deeper than that as well. It has to do with all I love to do that I just can’t fit in, in a single day or even a week, much less a year. It’s all the places I dream to travel to and all the photographs I haven’t taken yet. It’s all the people I haven’t met yet and the people who I do have in my life. It’s my parents who are in their mid to late 70’s, how I’d love for them to see more of this world and to have them around to see Dylan grow old. It’s for my sister in poor health, I wonder often how much time she really has. It’s my son, Dylan. How I’d long for him to stay little where I can pick him up and hug and kiss him at the drop of a hat. Where I can hear him say to me again and again in his sweet little voice “I just love you mom.” It’s his little arms around me and the moments we spend curled up on the couch reading yet another book. It’s the loving arms of my husband and the dedication he brings to Dylan and I. It’s the change of the seasons, the light from the sun, the golden glow in the summer that bathes my skin that I just want to forever be in. It’s the magical flowers and nature that surrounds me. It’s this too, this moment, writing for my blog. How I love the chance to help and inspire people.

But no one is going to come at you and give you more time. Time is here now and then time is gone. You get what you get and although it would be incredible for it to be endless, it’s not. In fact no one knows how much time we have.

So if it is time you’d wish for, do all you can to keep your health because that really is most important. Then find ways to immerse yourself in life. Spend time with loved ones. Let them know you love them, remind them once again how much meaning they bring into your life. Immerse yourself in nature, enjoy it’s simple yet complex beauty. Try new things, travel this world, find a career or passion you love and embrace it instead replaying the same dreaded day in a dead end job day after day. You only live once so create a life worth living and write your story. Think of yourself as a 95 year old hanging onto the memories of your life. If it’s not time you wish for now it might be then. But then you can’t get it back. Make sure you are making the most of it here and now because here and now is all we really have. This moment. Be mindful of your life, of your thoughts and of your dreams. Do all you can now to embrace your life so when you are an old soul looking back over your life you won’t be left wishing for more time that you won’t get, but you’ll be thankful for the time you did have that was yours for living all along.