Reflections: Life's special moments

Time is seemingly endless. Yet we often do not have enough of it. On the other hand, it is one thing in life that is a constant. The hours, days, weeks and years are a handful of the few things in life which keeps moving forward and never looks back. While each of our individual periods of time on earth are limited, it is a constant that time will continue on with or without us. This is a good reason to make the most of the time we do have.

As individuals, we can reflect on times gone by. Days gone by cannot be repeated, so the only thing we can do is reflect upon, learn from, or simply remember past days. Special moments are times which have meaning and are typically something etched in our minds forever.

Life's special moments may relate to a special person, event or just that, a moment. It could be a smile, a kind word, a loving embrace or a chance meeting. Special moments can be memorialized and attached to a special song, movie or other more tangible presence. Or they could exist solely in our minds as a special defining time.

• Have you ever met someone that passed through your life quickly but had a significant impact?
• Do you reflect on the first time you fell in love or received your first kiss?
• How about your wedding day or the birth of your child?
• The first time you learned how to ride a bike by yourself?
• The day you hit the winning home run in a baseball game?

There are probably an infinite number of memories in the past that reside in your mind, either consciously or subconsciously, and can be remembered as special moments. Treasure these because these are the moments which make up life, and those of which provide hope for the future.

 
While it is true we all sometimes experience bad times, it is often a good idea to take the time to think back and reflect upon life's special moments, both those which have passed and thoughts of those still destined to come.

Going through life in a pattern of negativity that puts too much energy into trivial matters is not only exhausting, it detracts from the things that are most important in life. Live life to the fullest and don't waste time on the things that really don't matter in the long run. Instead focus on life's special moments, both past and present, that make life so, well…special.

A new day begins

Poetry - Wild and free

Photo credit: Leigh Goessl

All her life she felt trapped
Wanting liberation
Always just out of reach
A desired salvation

Released from the shackles
Feeling free as a bird 
All ready to embrace life
Her past started to blur

First she ran to the playground
Swung high up on the swings
Danced around a grassy field
Finally free to spread her wings

A chance to start life over
Fresh beginning and new start
Time to live life to the fullest
Her old life she can depart

Her happiness to be found
By living wild and free
For the first time in her life
She's free to be who she wants to be

Reflections on 'What could have been'

Photo credit: Leigh Goessl

Why focusing on the past too much can get in the way of your future...

It is said things happen for a reason, but when tragedy hits, a true love is lost, or another unexpected twist of events occurs, it is often difficult to understand the "why" of it all. Reconciling with thoughts of what could have been if things worked out as you'd planned or hoped is not always easy. 

The reason being, we can't always control what hand of cards life decides to deal us and, as a result, we are forced to reckon with the hand we are dealt. The thoughts of what could have been, had another hand been offered, is intriguing, but it can't change the reality of what's already occurred.

There are a few factors we can control. At each turning point in our lives we come to a crossroads and must choose which path to follow. Sometimes we make the 'right' choices, and other times we make the 'wrong' ones. As a result, we might travel a less than optimal path.

Reflecting on what could have been can't change where we've traveled because it is in the past -- which cannot be undone. The upside of reflecting on past people and events in life is that they can help carve and/or shape your future. This happens through the wisdom gained from the paths traveled. Wistful thinking doesn't offer this insight because it keeps us locked in a place where time stands still and doesn't allow us to move forward.

Another facet to consider are the choices of other people. Often the decisions made by others impact our lives and forever alter the paths we follow. Sometimes this is a good thing, other times there is potential to lead down a darker path. Timing seems to be a pivotal issue.

Have you ever met someone in your life you were immediately drawn to? Someone with whom you bonded so naturally and felt an immediate strong connection with from the first moment you met? Love at first site perhaps? Not necessarily even a love connection, but a strong bond nonetheless. For reasons due to 'timing', the relationship doesn't work out despite obvious strong feelings for one another and you are forced to part ways.

When situations like this occur it is sometimes wistful to think about what could have been had situations been different or the relationship had occurred at another time in life. Yet this wistful thinking on what may have been doesn't change the reality of it all.

If anything, getting lost in the past has a tendency to imprison and trap people in a place that prevents a person from living freely due to a preoccupation with a past that couldn't be. As a result, this can have a domino effect and a tendency to impact other relationships.

Despite the what ifs, things in life have a strange way of working out. Yes a terrible or life changing event may have happened, and while things are different, a new path can be carved. Or a love may have been lost, but happiness and true love can be found with another. 

We can only control the immediate space surrounding ourselves and that's about the scope of control we have. It doesn't serve a purpose to continually wonder what could have been, but it is proactive to look at what can be as we forge ahead into the future.

While it is hard not to reflect on thoughts of what could have been had different paths been chosen or alternate decisions made, innate thoughts on what could have been doesn't really serve a purpose in the long run. We cannot go back in time and make changes, but we do have the power to shape our lives.

Although, sometimes it is nice to think about what would be changed if it was possible.