“It’s the oldest story in the world. One day you’re seventeen and planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today, and then someday is yesterday, and then this is your life.” – One Tree Hill
I’ll never forget my senior year of college, I was sitting in my tiny bed in my even tinier room – or “shoebox” as we liked to call it – at the sorority house. I opened up my laptop and saw an email from my dad. Attached was a song by Trace Adkins called “You’re Gonna Miss This.” The lyrics go a little something like this:
“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 this now, but you’re gonna miss this.”
I was so ready to graduate from college and get on with my life. I was tired of the parties. I was tired of the cliques. I was just tired.
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| Pi Phi Dad’s weekend. Pretty sure this might be the only time my dad or I have ever golfed. Please don’t judge my outfit ;) |
I am so thankful for this reminder from my dad because looking back now, I do miss that stage of life. Not that I want to go back to college, but it really was a sweet time. And I realize now that the next stage of life will come soon enough. So why not enjoy the stage of life I am in now?
It’s easy to forget. I know I need to be constantly reminded of it. But I want to make the most of life. I want to relish each day; for each day is a gift.
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| It pretty much takes booking an acting job for me to catch a sunrise. While it’s never fun waking up when it’s still dark outside, getting to watch the glowing sun rise over the still-sleeping city of LA is worth it every time… What a beautiful picture of the fresh start we get each day. A new opportunity to bring light into the darkness of this world. |
Life is short. In the infinite span of eternity, our lives are but a mere dot. I don’t want to wish my life away, always longing for the next stage. I want to look around and appreciate all that I have in every stage of life I find myself in.
I want to live now.
“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon — instead of the roses blooming outside our window today.” – Dale Cargenie
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| the view from the parking lot at Bel Air Presbyterian Church at sunset. an undeniable manifestation of God’s beauty. |
It’s important to have dreams and goals towards which we are working. But not to the point that we miss out on where we are right now because we are so focused on the future. Life doesn’t start when you graduate from college. Or when you get that job. Or when you get married and have kids. John Lennon said it well:
“Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”
I don’t want to think so much about tomorrow that I miss out on today. I don’t want to wait to start my life. Life is what’s happening right now. And we only get one shot at it. We only get one today.
“Today is not a dress rehearsal.” – Kenneth Cole
