There’s a popular audio clip of Jordan Peterson being shared that I found moving. Jordan Peterson describes how there is something special about children when they are between 0 - 4 years old. He warns that we will never get it back if we miss this moment. At the time I’m writing this, my daughter is 3 1/2. It seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye. One minute you're holding a precious baby, the next moment she’s crawling and the next moment she is climbing up your body like you are a human jungle gym.
I started looking back at old videos of my daughter and it stood out to me how quickly she has grown. It is true when people say, “it goes fast.” You can’t appreciate how fast it goes until the time has already slipped away from you. All you can do is look back and cherish the memories you have and pray you don’t miss the moments that really matter.
We take a lot of things for granted but don’t let your time with your children be one of them. Appreciate each moment while you still have it. I know this can be difficult in a world that is continuously jockeying for our attention. If we’re not careful, we can blink and the moments are gone before we can even notice.
At the end of your life, you’re not going to be thinking to yourself “Man, I wish I spent more time at work.” or “I didn’t spend enough time on social media.” You’re going to be thinking about the time you either spent or missed with your family. You don’t want to be looking back knowing you missed out on some of the most precious moments of your kids’ life for extra time in the office. You don’t want to enter the grave knowing you traded a moment cuddling with your kiddo because you couldn’t put your phone down.
You know, I look at my daughter and I just find myself marveling over the wonder in her eyes when she experiences something new for the very first time. It fills you with joy and also gives you a sense of hope for the world. As you bear witness to the purity that comes from the way a child sees the world, you can’t help but be optimistic about the future. Children have a way of making you believe anything is still possible and they inspire you to want to keep that wonder alive. It’s not something that lasts forever. There will come a day when they see the dark aspects of the world and that innocence may be lost.
That’s why we must appreciate this moment while it lasts. It’s their pure hearts that keep the flame of hope alive. It reminds us the world isn’t such a dark place and gives us something to fight for; something to preserve.
Don’t miss it. It goes fast.
It really doesn't go by fast. Time travels at the same pace it has for eons. As We Grow we fill that space with more things. Deciding what is most worth that time? Comes at different points of our lives.
I have held this belief for about 35 years now. Both my sons, Ray, Jason and you Ryan. Are the reason for it. In many ways.
All of you, have now shared in the wonder that (back then Mom, Lisa and I were the minority 😁) parenthood brings. When it is "Job #1". As it should be.
Too many take too long to realize this. And the damage is too deep to recover on many fronts.
It is reading your words on this topic and others that makes me feel that same wonder quite often.
It helps to keep the focus when there are so many distractions thrown into our vision.
Thank You for sharing your experiences. It brimgs me back to Red Rover in Rays' Jungleland of 109 and the laughter from all you "kids"!
Watching you, Jay, Kris, Zach amd even Ray carrying these important times makes my Heart and face smile. And tears of utter joy well in my eyes. The feeling of Fullness is the only description I can give.
Enjoy Every Second!