I had a really good idea for this blog a couple of days ago, but I forget what it was.
Story of my life. I spend oodles of time trying to remember things and retracing my steps to do/find/figure out what I forgot. My forgetfulness is the reason I run my life with lists and Post-It notes, but they still can't cover everything. I forget to attach files to emails that say things are attached. I forget to take the Groupon to the restaurant we chose specifically to use it. And of course I forget where my sunglasses are and why I walked into a room.
But I just shrug and repeat, "A mind is a terrible thing to lose." This kind of forgetfulness is harmless and often funny. What I really don't want to forget is the essence of existence: who I am and the people who matter to me.
We don't think we'll ever forget those things, but we do, every day. The busyness of life eats away at our recognition of what is most important to us. We live with others and rarely stop to remember why we married him/her, the wonder of that child we brought into this world or the sacrifices a parent made for us. We fill the days with necessary chores and work, forgetting why we are trying to make a nice home or earn that money.
Occasionally, we get flashes of remembrance. A woman tilts her head just so, and in a rush of love he remembers their entire courtship. Someone takes a package with such an expression of relief and joy that the deliveryman knows what he does is important. A fish jumps in the water, and we are grateful for the beauty of nature. The writers' group meets, and I remember the satisfaction of crafting words into something that can entertain and share meaning.
We all need more of these moments, and we need to make these moments for ourselves and others. Stop and smell the roses. Carpe diem. You can't see the forest for the trees. Are there any other old saws that address the need to live with open eyes? Uh, I forget.
Yeah, OK. Just don't forget to remember.
Story of my life. I spend oodles of time trying to remember things and retracing my steps to do/find/figure out what I forgot. My forgetfulness is the reason I run my life with lists and Post-It notes, but they still can't cover everything. I forget to attach files to emails that say things are attached. I forget to take the Groupon to the restaurant we chose specifically to use it. And of course I forget where my sunglasses are and why I walked into a room.
But I just shrug and repeat, "A mind is a terrible thing to lose." This kind of forgetfulness is harmless and often funny. What I really don't want to forget is the essence of existence: who I am and the people who matter to me.
We don't think we'll ever forget those things, but we do, every day. The busyness of life eats away at our recognition of what is most important to us. We live with others and rarely stop to remember why we married him/her, the wonder of that child we brought into this world or the sacrifices a parent made for us. We fill the days with necessary chores and work, forgetting why we are trying to make a nice home or earn that money.
Occasionally, we get flashes of remembrance. A woman tilts her head just so, and in a rush of love he remembers their entire courtship. Someone takes a package with such an expression of relief and joy that the deliveryman knows what he does is important. A fish jumps in the water, and we are grateful for the beauty of nature. The writers' group meets, and I remember the satisfaction of crafting words into something that can entertain and share meaning.
We all need more of these moments, and we need to make these moments for ourselves and others. Stop and smell the roses. Carpe diem. You can't see the forest for the trees. Are there any other old saws that address the need to live with open eyes? Uh, I forget.
Yeah, OK. Just don't forget to remember.
RSS Feed