Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Savor Your Moments

When I was a kid, I can remember thinking that my 9 month school year seemed to take 3 years to get through.  Everything seemed so slow, time often stood still or crept by at the pace of a snail on a Sunday drive.  My parents would always tell me “enjoy it now, because when you get older it will go by too fast.”  Boy, they sure were right on this one, time has been flying by for me.  The other day I picked my kids up from school (I have a 5 year old and a 12 year old).  They both were talking about how fast the school year has gone and it seems as if they have only been is school for a short time.  Hmmm … well that’s strange.  I never said that at age 5 or 12.  That got me thinking … what is so different now that my kids seem to think time flies by so quickly?  I then realized that we never truly shut down.  In today’s world, there is always something that is stimulating us.  The television, movies, everything is on demand, computers, internet, phones, tablets, texting, face-timing … it never ends.  When was the last time you saw a 13 year old without a phone stuck in his or her hands?  God forbid you ask them to put it down for any length of time.  That goes for us adults as well.  God forbid we miss that email or a Facebook status update.  We seem to never shut down and just enjoy the quiet life.

I was on a short cruise this past weekend with my husband, celebrating our wedding anniversary.  We try to do a quick getaway every year at this time.  This was the first time that my husband did not bring his computer, which was a complete miracle in itself.  Now, of course, he still had his phone and did occasionally check emails, but, I accept one step at a time!  I have to say, it was fantastic!   We just completely shut down for the most part.  I realized that I do not do this enough.  Sure, we go on vacations and cruise fairly often and take the kids with us most of the time.  But it really isn’t ever quality time.

So, what’s the moral of my blog?  Take the time to savor your moments.  There really are not enough of them.  Have no regrets.  Don’t put things off, you never know what tomorrow will bring.  Here is an example from my life:  Back in 2011, my husband and I convinced my in-laws that they should go on a cruise with us.  They had never cruised, my mother-in-law thought she might be sea sick the whole time.  It took some work!  But, we all went.  My sister-in-law and brother-in-law joined us as well.  We were on board Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas for a week.  We spent a lot of time together; dinners, shore excursions, playing bingo, just hanging out as a family.  It was great.  My husband and I always said “we will have to do that again someday.”  Well, we can’t.  My husband’s father passed away a few months ago.  That was certainly not in the plans.  One thing my husband’s mother said after the service was “I’m so glad we went on that cruise with you.”  We were very glad too.


Those bucket list plans, those “I will go one day” trips … try not to put them off.  And when you do go, savor the moments and cherish your memories.  One day, they might be all you have left.  Create as many as you can!

Happy Savoring!
Kathy Freer
CruiseOne Freer & Associates
888-882-5793

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