10.06.2011

the in between...


I was thinking today about waiting.  How much of our life is spent waiting.  When we are children, we can't wait to grow up.  We wait for summers and junior high.  Then we wait for high school and once there, it's about graduation and college.  College again finds us waiting to graduate and "start" our lives.  We wait for the job, for prince charming and then we wait to get married.  Once married, we wait for children.

Oh boy the waiting has just begun.  We wait for them to crawl, walk, talk and so forth.  After that, we go through all the summer and graduation waiting again with them.  When they leave, we wait for them to come back, we wait for grandchildren and retirement - when we finally will have the time and means to do all those things we really wanted to do.  We can finally live.

I think our lives are actually made up of what we are doing in between all this waiting.
The in between is what matters.
Make today more important than yesterday and tomorrow.
Don't wait.

I'm a planner so I'm working on this, getting better, but working still.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is so true, Jeanette. Beautifully said. Sometimes it's hard to just be in the moment and appreciate each day every minute for what it is. Thanks for the lovely reminder. xo

lisaroy said...

well said! Life is what happens while you're waiting for the next thing to happen. xo

Stitchfork said...

So very true and well said Jeanette. I have a magnet at my desk that says - What are you waiting for? I should take note of it more often.
xo Cathy

donna said...

Waiting....oh no, not me. I gave that up a looong time ago. Ok, not so long, the day after 911. It is SO freeing....weeeeeeeeeeeee

(chuckle)

Bel said...

Very wise words. I wish I could find a way to treasure today more than tomorrow! I'm always thinking about the future!

Belly B :)

Maria said...

J you know that you and I are such kindred spirits on this. Part of the reason that I do what I do - I want every moment I can scrape together with the ones I love. I want those moments to count. Thanking God for each little gift of each little moment. Not waiting to celebrate the BIG accomplishments or the arrival - but embracing the journey.

Such a great reminder as I clean up after the dog yet again :-)

MJM said...

I like Stitchfork's comment... It would be good for all of us to ask, "What am I waiting for?"

Silver Strands said...

Yes Jeanette - your post goes very well with the quote "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans". Good reminder!

Annemarie said...

So, so true. Everything is waiting - being in the moment is sometimes hard but oh so worth it. Love this post! xx

Andrew H. said...

Well put. Well put indeed.
This really makes you think. I love the photo you chose to go along with the post as well.

Paula (The Sea Green Journal) said...

This really hits the spot and is pretty good advice. Thanks a lot! :)

KR said...

You know I love the photo, it is superb!
I'm an in the moment person, in spite of making travel plans for future dates, for which one does have to plan ahead.
The difficult part for me is being married to someone who is rarely in the moment, but we probably balance each other somewhat.

Katherine said...

Beautifully written :)

Bonnie said...

I am such a planner, too, so I know where you are coming from. Sometimes, we just have to chill out and take it as it comes. Not everything can be planned. :)

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Unknown said...

Ah! I LOVE this!

Lisa Lisa Lisa said...

I am so with you. I regularly have to stop and list things to myself that I appreciate about the PRESENT. It can be difficult with so much to anticipate.

Jillian said...

I am trying to learn to live in the moment rather than "waiting" for what comes next.

Jane Kilpatrick Schott said...

Well said Jeanette. Of all days, this is what we should all be thinking about. Great post.

HAMPTON HOSTESS said...

love this--you are such an excellent writer--and such sage advice!

Alexa said...

Thank you for this. Actually I needed it at this moment, it's good to remember to slow down. Life goes by fast.

J said...

Yes - the in between is real life, the rest is imagined or remembered... well-stated & a healthy reminder to enjoy every moment. j

pamela said...

so true. i told a guy at my school the other day who just got engaged to just enjoy this time...people will ask when is the date and as soon as you get married, when is the baby due...on and on. one thing i CAN wait on is wrinkles! it sure was fun growing up in AZ but how the skin pays now!

Privet and Holly said...

Love love this.
So important to
relish each day
and not constantly
be looking forward....
although it's preferable
to always looking
behind. Great words!
xx Suzanne