My two teenagers live in the present and in the future. They are very much enjoying their lives now, but they do look ahead to college and life afterwards.
I live in the twixt-and-tween. I look at the past and wonder where time went and I look to the future and wonder if I'll be here. Next month, I'll be taking the first college tours with my daughter and I can't help but question if I'll be around to help her move into college. I think my odds are better for her as she graduates from high school in 2018, but for my son? It seems more iffy. He doesn't graduate until 2020.
My husband has to live in all three time scenarios. Working in medical devices means analyzing what has worked in the past and projecting to the future to improve on such things. Yet, he has to live in the present to deal with product issues and of course, living in Silicon Valley in the midst of a global economy, everything has to happen NOW!
We constantly ask ourselves, "How do we wish to spend our time?" It's never an easy question and it's never an easy answer. Demands fly at us from every angle and the idea of rest and relaxation is a hard one to grasp. Even in the midst of dealing with a terminal illness, I struggle with the idea of doing "nothing," but that's another post for another time.
Recently, I had the incredible joy of watching a hummingbird nest. I have no idea when the nest was built ... I missed that part ... but I got to see a special part of nature unfold before my eyes. I'll let the pictures tell the story.
There is a plan. I just can't imagine that something as intricate as a hummingbird just "came to be" by chance.
Tiny things can bring great joy. This joy can be from little birds to tastes of food to company with friends. Great joy can come from a good night's sleep, a respite from pain, another sunrise. A crafting project, a walk in the rain, a dash in the sun ... all can bring joy. A drive in the country, a Broadway show, a darkened movie theater ... joy for some, horrors for others.
We are all different. What brings us joy differs from person to person. No one can dictate what should bring joy to another. However, I encourage you to find something that brings you joy today. If you can, take a lesson from a hummingbird.