Saturday, June 11, 2011

Don't Blink

Unfortunately, I did or so it seems, and here we are in the first full week of June. Cool rainy days have turned into hot sultry nights (wish that was as sexy as it sounds). The first half of the year is almost done and I can only scratch my head in disbelief. My how time flies. And my how things change.

Kenny Chesney talks about this in his song "Don't Blink"? About how we are living our life and in a blink of an eye days, months or even years have gone by and things have changed. Sometimes it greets us in sad, heart wrenching ways, like the sudden loss of a loved one. Other times, it comes in the form of a phone call or an e-mail that makes our dreams come true. Either way, things change and life evolves at a pace that leaves us feeling like we are standing still.

If you don't know Chesney's song, here are some of the lyrics.

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife.

Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink

I was glued to my tv when it looked like he looked at me and said
"Best start putting first things first."
Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand
You can't flip it over and start again
Take every breathe God gives you for what it's worth.

It goes hand in hand with 'stop and smell the roses', the message being not to let life just pass you by. Participate. Interact. Be alive. Take time to appreciate the loved ones in your life. The joys and even the sorrows must be felt and experienced to the full extent. Because in the blink of an eye it can all change - made better or taken away.

Growing up, I'd always heard that as you got older time would fly by and it has. Think of all the things that have happened since January 1, 2011 and how these events have changed peoples lives. And with the phenomenal events our world is and has faced just in the last five and half months, one has to wonder what it all means, what the big picture is pointing to. I, for one, plan to "take every breath God gives for what it's worth."

Here are just a few of the events that have changed people lives:
- An 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan, triggering tsunamis and a nuclear threat that reached the shores of California.
- Seventy tornadoes tore across 7 states in the southeast and mid-west, leaving 500 dead. In the U.S. EF-5 tornadoes are rare, but this year there have been at least 4.
- On average there are 670 tornadoes this time of year, but this year there have been an unusually high number at 1,168.
- One of those tornadoes left a 75-mile path of destruction and lasted 2 hours.
- The predicted end of the world came and went. Imagine how different the lives of those who believed are now.
- Egypt overthrew their regime.

In the blink of an eye our lives can change. For me, one life changing moment came with the offer of a publishing contract almost six months ago. Since then, I feel like I've been running at full speed. And now I find myself wondering where in the heck the days have gone. I don't think I even slowed down long enough to truly celebrate my dream come true moment. I meant to, but then I blinked...

To continue with Chesney's lyrics:

So I've been tryin' ta slow it down
I've been tryin' ta take it in
In this here today, gone tomorrow world we're livin' in.

Have you had a 'don't blink' moment?
How would you finish this sentence: It seem like just yesterday...

15 comments:

Melissa Landers said...

Yay! Now I can comment on how much I love this post. You're so right about the importance of slowing down and savoring each day. I'm resolving to do this before any more time slips away from me.

Joelene Coleman said...

It seems like just yesterday when I held my first grandchild, a baby girl from my baby girl, and realized I had just witnessed my life coming full circle. She'll be 14 in three days. My how time flies! Thanks for another great post.

Calisa Rhose said...

It seems like just yesterday when I got married, had my first daughter, my first granddaughter... Now my baby daughter of three has a baby daughter of her own and that first daughter? She's now a mommy of two little girls.

I love Kenny's song. I also think of Tim McGraw's song of a cancer patient talking to his dr about what he did when he 'got the news'. It also is a song of living each moment, stopping to smell the roses. It goes so fast! Wonderful reminder Tina.

Sandy B said...

It seems like just yesterday when I got my cancer diagnosis, but it was in March 2001. It was a real wake-up call that made me appreciate life for the gift it is. I no longer say "some day I will..." but "today I am going to ..." Makes all the difference.

Bobbye Terry said...

My mom once said that she didn't know how she got to be the age she was because there was still a 21 year-old woman inside. I feel that way so often.

Your words are so true and it's a good thing to remind us all to live each day as it comes.

Thanks,
Bobbye

Nancy Naigle said...

You are so right. It's just another reminder that we need to embrace each moment and make them positive and memorable.

Hugs and happiness,
Nancy

Janie Emaus said...

So well said. Time does go by too fast and that's why we have to enjoy every moment.

Unknown said...

Melissa,

So glad you were able to leave a comment. And thank you for the insight into Blogger. I know you've had some exciting things happening this year, too, so yes, remember to acknowledge the good news, let it sink in, before all the other stuff that comes with it takes up a big chunk of your time. Thanks for stopping in.

Unknown said...

Joelene,

I swear, you just don't look old enough to have a 14 year old granddaughter. But I can imagine the pride you must feel when you look at your daughter and granddaughter. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Wow, Calisa, as with Joelene, I can only imagine the pride you must feel watching them grow into adults and have babies of their own.

You're right, Tim McGraw's song is another good one trying to remind us to appreciate the here and now.

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this with us, Sandy. A very scary wake-up call. I'm glad you've been given the opportunity to make that difference of saying, "today I am going to..."

Unknown said...

I can relate to that, Bobbye, and often forget that I'm not 21 anymore. The little reminders, like sore muscles, have a tendency to set me straight eventually. Thanks for leaving a comment.

Unknown said...

Hi Nancy,

It's hard to understand why we would have to work so hard at remembering to appreciate the good in our lives. You'd think that would come more naturally, but our lives are so busy.

Hugs and happiness to you, too.

Unknown said...

Welcome, Janie. You've had some exciting stuff happening, huh? A new contract with TMP and a new grandbaby. Congrats on both.

Take time to celebrate and enjoy. Thanks for stopping in.

Renee Vincent said...

I always do this, Christina....I take a moment to look at where my life is at the moment and wonder how in the world I am where I am in such a short amount of time. It's the way life is, unfortunately, and before you know it, you'll blink again and another half a year will have passed by. Fasten your seat belts, sweetie, or in our case "settle deep in that saddle!"

Great post, Tina!