“Sometimes you’ll never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

My husband’s older brother and his family came to visit us today. They started reminiscing about their growing up memories together and the friends they’d had along the way. My husband shared with his brother that a few weeks ago one of their friends from growing up was found passed away in his truck. They then began sharing memories of this friend of each of the times he had impacted their lives for good. As I sat listening to them talk I couldn’t help but think to myself how those moments they had with their friend that just died are now so incredibly valuable to them…those moments have become valued memories.

Don’t you wish we could appreciate each moment as it was happening rather than often times waiting until there is a tragedy or something is taken away from us to truly appreciate it? I know that I do. I wish there was a better way to remind ourselves real-time, each day, to cherish the moments we are having and not to take them for granted. But let’s face it, it is hard to cherish the moment when you tell yourself in your head that you will have plenty more of them still so you will take time to cherish it better next time…we always think there will be a next time….until there’s not one….and by then its too late…

I think what I took away from listening to them talk tonight was a renewed desire to try and cherish moments as they happen and not wait until they are a memory to truly value them. Perhaps it’s the stage of my life I am in that causes me to really start to appreciate and recognize the value of each day we are given and the value of each minute we get to spend with the people we love. As my kids have grown up and are living lives of their own I find that I absolutely value each second I get to spend with them because now I know how precious that time is. As my parents grow older I appreciate each moment I get to spend with them because I realize that they won’t always be around for me to spend time with. This stage of my life is definitely teaching me to appreciate each moment far more than ever before.

The bottom line is this – Don’t wait til it’s gone to know what you’ve got! Cherish every moment as it happens and appreciate each second that you have.

Have an amazing weekend everyone!

~Amy