Thursday, April 4, 2013

After #fiveminutefriday

Write. For five minutes straight. One-word prompt, five minutes, no editing. I'm linking up over at Lisa-Jo Baker (aka The Gypsy Mama) where we read, write and encourage.
Five Minute Friday

After this it gets better, right? After high school comes college. After college there's a job. After the job, is the house, the kids, the grandkids, on and on. Always something to look forward to. Something more, something better. 

I have a hard time staying in the moment. I think that's one of the reasons I like to blog- it reminds me of the things I did today, not the things I will do tomorrow. I look forward so often that it's hard to remember I have so much here and now. 

After this, we'll be okay. Once it's done, things will calm down. But if you step back and look at the larger picture, the giant frame you can barely comprehend, after is just a series of nows. And I'm so busy trying to be prepared for what's next that I don't focus on what's here.

Let's remember to enjoy here and now. Let's not look or prepare or worry about what comes after. Because I don't want to miss this. 

20 comments:

  1. "After is just a series of nows." I LOVE that! I was just reading Shauna Niequist's book Cold Tangerines (SO GOOD) and she was talking about how she was always waiting in life for the Big Moment. The moment where everything would change, like in the movies, and her life would never be the same. But she realized that there were tons of big moments throughout every single day, and it was her job to discover them. We definitely need to enjoy the here and now. I don't want to miss it, either!

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    1. I'm going to have to put that on my reading list. I'm definitely having a hard time remembering big moments can be little too. Thanks for commenting, Anne!

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  2. We went in very similar directions with this prompt! Oh - and I'm a Mrs. E. too! Great to meet you throught #fmfparty

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    1. It's just one of those prompts that struck home. Thanks, Mrs. E, for commenting! ;)

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  3. Yes...living the blessings of now. Something He is continually teaching me! Love this post...thank you for sharing. Blessings to you!

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    1. It's true- sometimes you need to be shown the way. (More often I'm too stubborn to find it on my own!). Thanks for visiting, Mel!

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  4. Oh yeah, with so much yet to come it can be hard to stay right "here". Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. "Here" was an "after" once- why can't it be good enough for me? I need that reminder constantly. Glad you dropped by!

      (My aunt always introduces herself as Debi- "one b one i"!)

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  5. I just shared this at Mel's blog, and wanted to pop in here too. :) All day I've been answering my friends as they ask “how’s life” and “what’s going on since we last talked?”: I’m trying to stay in the moment, day-by-day. I get so excited about the future that my mind rushes there, but I don’t want to miss the here and now.

    You're so right. "I don't want to miss this."

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    1. I agree. I think blogging helps me cover the little stuff, but everyone always asks "what's next", so I'm constantly in that frame of mind to prepare. Glad you get it. :)

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. Amen! It's so important to savor the moments, because before we know it, they're gone.

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  7. Living in the moment with you. I could kill myself in worry and doubt if I thought about the after too much. So let's live with our eyes wide open and not miss a thing right now in the here and now.

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    1. It can get tough sometimes, but ultimately it's worth it to slow down. Smell those roses, read that book, etc. I'll look back at this moment and wonder why I didn't. Thanks for commenting, Alene.

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  8. I also struggle to stay in the here and now. My bent is towards fear and worry of what is next but God is helping me with that. (linking from FMF)

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    1. We're groomed to make sure that we're ready and prepared for what's next, but sometimes that can take the fun out of what we already have. I need to remind myself to be content. Thanks for stopping by, Amy!

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  9. Love this! Savoring the moment with you. Thanks for the reminder.

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    1. I think we need it from time to time! Thanks for stopping by, Kariss!

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  10. You're sooo right.....it is important to savor the here and the right now....working on that :-)

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    1. Always working on that. Always. Thanks for commenting!

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It's so easy to comment and I would love to hear from you!
Mrs. E