A Word to Live By

A new year is upon us. Always a reflective time for me- thinking of what has come to pass and what's ahead. This year will be a busy one- one that will certainly bring more defining moments, milestones and new experiences. I'll turn the big 3-0 this year, which feels like a milestone. Hard to believe I'll be as far from 40 as I am from 20. My, my how things have changed from when I was 20. Sad to see those years go. Can't imagine how it will feel to one day reflect back on where I am now, ten years from now. I'll also have my 3rd child this year, see my 2nd child through her first year with cancer and possibly send my 1st child off to Kindergarten. (He's right on the deadline- any advice on whether to send him or hold him back? Still deciding).

So...I've heard of this idea of choosing a "word of the year." A word that essentially you'll live by, strive for, resolve to live up to. Lately I've just been feeling like, "how am I already here?" That life that seemed so far away and now it is here. That point where you realize that it goes by so fast and you wonder where the days, years and moments have gone. So the word I am choosing is CHERISH.

Obviously life has changed for us in some ways. It's definitely put things in perspective for me, helped me re-focus and re-define what is most important in life. I feel that I've already started cherishing things more, because I know how quickly things can change. However, the idea of really cherishing what I have, where I'm at, etc. really hit me a few days ago. While sitting with Rylee through her treatment, I started talking to a lady sitting next to us. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, then it spread to her bones and now it is throughout her entire body. Her cancer is terminal, she comes and gets chemo weekly, but she knows that it's just a matter of time. I was thinking to myself how it might feel to be in her shoes. Never knowing if this will be your last time to....whatever. (which could be true for any of us) I'm sure that she's cherishing what many of us are just waiting to get over, wishing away and hoping to get past. The idea of "empty yesterdays" that Pres. Monson talked about in conference is exactly what I hope to avoid by my word of the year. I was also inspired by that video that is out there called 99 balloons I think- it's very touching (You Tube it), good examples of parents who cherished what they had instead of dwelling on what was wrong or living in fear.

Part of my goal is to get back into scrapbooking- having them accessible to look at and cherish our memories. I'm also in the works of getting a big picture wall put together for our family room area. I've just been wanting to do more with all of the pictures that I take- I want to display and enjoy them more.

I ran across this paper that I got at some point during college- I think it is so true & a good reminder to cherish our lives.

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, get a good job, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our partner gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Alfred D. Souza says, "for a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then my life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective can help to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone, someone special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting, until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you decide on a career, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until the end of the semester, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or the fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one's watching.

Cherish it!