I recently heard the wise words of a child, “You’re missing out!” This was their response to an adult being on their phone and let me just say it hit home hard. Too many times we get caught up in the world around us that we forget to live in the present. We miss out on so much in these moments, whether it be us watching TV or playing on our phones watching the lives of others. Most of us have been guilty of spending too much time focused on things other than our families. It’s true when they say family is the most important thing and life is short. It feels like just yesterday I became an aunt to a sweet baby boy who is now ten years old and I have a child of my own. How can this be???? I’m as guilty as the next person when it comes to getting caught up in the past, future, and the world around us. But let me just say the first 7 weeks of my little girl’s life has flown by! I’ve come to cherish the crazy moments just as much as the quiet ones, for I know it won’t last long. In the recent weeks I have noticed myself become more aware of what’s present in front of me rather than the people and world around me. It makes life so much more meaningful and sweeter. Life isn’t about living up to the everyone else’s expectations but loving and cherishing the people in our lives. I challenge you to the following things:
- Spend less time on your phone. Stop living behind a screen all the time. Get out and enjoy the world.
- Go outside more. Just spending one day, even just a few hours, outside without your phone is so refreshing! Yes, there are times when you are tempted to check it or snap a picture and that’s fine, but make sure you spend less time on your phone and more time enjoying the scenery around you.
- Watch your babies sleep. You’re exhausted but you also lie awake at night wondering what the future holds not realizing it’s right in front of you. There is nothing more peaceful than watching a child sleep.
- Tell a person if you see them missing out on life. They might shrug you off, like I have many times in the past, but they might just realize all the precious moments they are missing out on.
It’s okay to spend some time relaxing on your phone and watching tv/movies but don’t become so consumed that you miss out on the little moments. My sister and brother-in-law have spent years telling me what I’m missing out on by not living in the present. It took me too long to realize this myself. So, live it up, you only live one life and it’s a precious one. Spend more time hugging and kissing your babies, loving on family, and less time worrying about everything else. Social media and tv can wait, but the loved ones around you cannot.
The picture I chose for this post was taken during hours of watching my baby sleep. There are many sleepless nights and I take advantage of those nights watching her sleep because I know it won’t last forever.