Embracing the Moment

"...Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you're 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn't go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It's going to break your heart. Don't let this happen." –Anne Lamott 

It has been a busy and off-kilter few weeks, and this week, I'm reveling in the comfort of routine and "regular life". First, there was an incredibly busy week at work leading up to a major event, and I spent the majority of my evenings and weekend time trying to make sense of my crazy to-do list. Next came a week spent in California visiting my beau's family, and last week I had a pre-cancerous mole removed from the bottom of my foot that was about 100x times more painful than I'd anticipated. This week, I'm pressing the reset button and embracing the moments of my regular life that are oh so sweet. 

I read the wonderful quote above on Cup of Jo last week, and it's been on my mind ever since. How many moments do I not fully appreciate because something isn't quite perfect? It's so easy to look to the future toward something that hasn't yet happened as when life really starts (when I lose 10 pounds, when I get married, when I figure out work/life balance, etc). But, life is happening now, in every single small moment of flossing your teeth, washing an endless amount of dishes, or pressing the snooze button. I'm not sure about you, but life is really zipping by at an alarming rate recently, and I want to do my best to stop and savor the moments as they are actually happening. 

This weekend, my beau and I took a blanket to a nearby park and I finished a fantastic book (This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper) while lying in the grass and listening to the kids playing nearby. I thought about taking a picture for Instagram, but resisted. Later that night, we laughed our heads off watching a Louie C.K. comedy special on HBO. Yesterday, instead of grabbing a Clif bar on the way out the door to work, I made breakfast and sat down at the table to eat it. Is any of that going to show up on the highlight reel of my life? Likely not, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world.

I don't want to wait for life to start, I want to embrace all of the beautiful moments that are happening right now. And if that means donning a bathing suit when I don't feel 100% comfortable, choosing not to share something on social media, or leaving the dishes in the sink until morning, so be it. 

P.S. I'm happy and slightly nervous to share that last week, I was a guest on Sarah Bagley's fantastic podcast. We talked about perfectionism, balance, and living in the moment. 

{Image via Pinterest}