In a world where we could have just about everything we want at a moment’s notice, we have to pick and choose where we allocate our energy and always remember that while good things are fleeting,

Great Things Take Time

Do the holidays feel like rush hour to you? Or like a welcome break? How full is your calendar? Do you constantly feel like me, and that you’re just on to the next thing without spending time to sit in the present?

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Table of Contents

• On To The Next One

• Moments with Maurice

• What's Got Me Smilin'

On To The Next One

Remember the holiday list? The one I needed to check twice to catch up with people? Turns out that it was more illuminating than I thought it would be heading into the holiday season.

Several months previously, I was in a car accident. Everyone walked away, and the car is almost drivable again (this is all the car repair I’ve been detailing in The Downshift and on social media). The night it happened, I was in contact with my family and loved ones to let them know what had happened. Then I shared the experience on Instagram. Handled things with insurance and the police. Just kept checking things off my list. Check, check, check ✅ 

Over Thanksgiving, we hosted at our house. We did most of the prep the day before, so other than making the salad on the day of, we just needed to throw things in the oven at their scheduled times. This was easy, set some timers, prep things to be served, then as soon as we served everything, I moved on to the next thing and worked on cleaning up so there was no mess around to be dealt with. After a meal, nothing is worse than having a pile of dishes and cookware that need to be cleaned. Again, moving on to the next thing to get everything done. Checking things off the to-do list so that I can relax in peace.

But moving on to the next thing wasn’t admirable because in my search for optimal completion, things got missed and balls got dropped. It was on to the next one, but this time the relentless pursuit was detrimental.

The whole point of Thanksgiving in my family is to share a big meal together that we’ve cooked and spend quality time together. Which is why it made sense that my family was not too pleased when, instead of sitting down to spend time with them over the meal we worked on, I chose to head to the sink with a loofah and dish soap in hand.

After my accident, I was so prepared to keep trucking along (pun intended) that I missed reaching out to my brother about the accident. This meant I received a call later from my brother, who had found out by a friend asking him if I was alright after seeing my social media. 

It didn’t matter about the seriousness of the incident; I hadn’t made time for him. It didn’t matter that the kitchen would be clean; I wasn’t making time for the people I actively looked to spend time with when the opportunity was being served to me on a silver platter.

This isn’t about carving out unique moments for time, because sometimes you can’t. There are obligations we all have that have to be met; it would be absurd to say that one can always make time. But even if we had to turn something down, there’s an emotional hurdle that has to be overcome to take what might feel like a scary step; it’s not something one takes lightly.

There is so much set in stone that I CAN’T control: the traffic, the weather, other people’s schedules… the list is infinite, but I can control where I focus my energy during each moment. If traffic to the holiday party is bad, can I have a meaningful conversation with the person in the car with me? When my flight gets delayed, how can I make an unforgettable memory with the person I’m delayed with (even if it’s just me)instead of just waiting for what I think is the assigned moment? To bottom line it, how can I squeeze the juice out of each moment so there is less passive meandering through life and more intentional action? 

The cleaning can wait, the call to the insurance company can wait. Not forever, but just enough so that full advantage of the moment is being taken. Even if the holiday schedule is busy, the best present is always your presence, even in the smallest moments.

Moments with Maurice

If you only pause to reflect on your life for one moment today, do it now.

If you’ve been journaling along with me, take the time to pause on the reflection and write down your answer to the prompt. Even if it feels silly in the moment, looking back on what you’ve written down can be eye-opening when you start to see patterns form.

Because no matter what, there is always something to smile about.

‘Tis The Season…

… for a company holiday party. No, we do not have a leaderboard to determine who has the best celebrations or the best dance moves… but maybe we should?

Pruncle (Proud Uncle)

Can’t miss an opportunity to swell with Uncle pride at these two smiling faces.

Is This Common or Normal?

A great distinction to have: is something common or normal, because the two things are NOT the same, especially when it comes to one’s health. This week, I took a step towards more personal health knowledge with a visit to Extension Health as part of my Road to 42. Once my results are in, there is going to be a lot of information that will not only be beneficial for me, but also my family, and I can’t wait to see how it shakes out.

Eating and Forgetting

Food and drink this week came from Emilio’s Ballato and a random bar I happened into on Friday. Talk about not being present with your surroundings, I couldn’t tell you the name of the place, not due to drinks, but just not being in the moment. I’m big at exploring new corners of the city, but not always living in the present.

Remember:

-Adrian