FINALLY it’s going to get warmer!! After an actual temp of -13F the other morning, we have forecasted highs of 45F on Tuesday! This morning felt surprisingly comfortable with no wind and 7 degrees on our morning walk.
The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and it felt almost spring-like! Except for the ice covered roads and, I suppose, the 7 degree temperature. Charlie was sniffing and pawing around in some deep snow too long and then started lifting his paws like they hurt, so I snapped at him, “Charlie, that’s why when it’s frigid outside we don’t linger!!! Let’s go!” (He was definitely “lingering”. He just looked blankly at me so I guess he doesn’t know the word “linger”.) I understand his desire for a good, slow, lazy, sniff walk, but today was not quite that day yet! Hopefully this weekend!
I found myself thinking, as I listened to the birds, oooh, it’s getting close to March. March is a “spring” month, in my mind! (I mean, this is very relative- March usually sucks here and is still very cold. But it’s still technically the start of spring on the calendar!!)
Only 7 more days in February….
But then in my next thought I reminded myself, “Don’t wish your life away.”
I REALLY don’t like to do this. You know what I mean… thinking things like, “I can’t wait for school to be done.” “I wish it were summer.” “I can’t wait til the boys are big enough to do xyz.” “I wish the week would hurry up so I can start my vacation.” Etc. *(I totally understand that some kid-phases or even other life phases are really, super challenging, so I don’t judge anyone wishing to sort of fast-forward through some of them, though!)*
In general though, I feel like life is so short as it is that I don’t ever want to speed it up further, and I try to catch myself when I (inevitably) have these thoughts sometimes.
My mom used to say this phrase a lot, probably because I know as a child I was guilty of saying, “I wish it were Friday!” on a Tuesday, or “I can’t wait for summer break!” in March.
I actually have a core memory of her saying this to me one time. (I know she has said it many times, but I always remember this one specific time.)
Not sure how old I was, but probably late elementary aged. We had just turned into our neighborhood and were rounding the bend by the house with the suuuuuper long driveway. I don’t recall what specifically I was eager to have come faster (probably summer), but I remember her saying it: “Don’t wish your life away!” And it’s so funny and random, but I think of that moment quite often!
So, I am going to listen to my mom, and I’m going to do my best to enjoy this COLD Friday (even if I might enjoy the 45 degree Tuesday a little more 😉). And I’m not going to wish away the rest of February, or a precious 7 days of my life. 💗
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for the sound of the birds this morning. We just did a short 10 minute loop, but the birds were definitely in a chatty “spring mode” and it brightened my spirits.
GRATEFUL KAE 
Anabel and I waked for almost an hour this morning, and I laughed SO HARD when I got home and saw that it had been just six degrees the whole time.
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Haha too funny! Ok now Charlie sounds like a wimp! Lol! Actually I could have kept going no problem on the cleared sidewalks, but his issue is that he won’t stay out of the snow! And then he freezes. Also many of our roads don’t have sidewalks, and they’re snowy and icy yet.
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Charlie doesn’t know linger — LOL. Got to step up the vocab lessons. 😉
You are so right that we shouldn’t wish our lives away! I feel especially lucky right now because I love winter so much and I know a lot of people are hating the persistent snow and cold.
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When I was younger I always had the feeling of wanting the next thing which seems always better than what I am living now. Somehow I’ve grown up to enjoy the now, today, right this moment because I learned that this is the only time I will live through this experience. I love the feeling of enjoying everyday, no matter the circumstances, while hopeful for another great day tomorrow.
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Kae, I am telling myself this all the time!!! It’s so easy to always be looking forward to the next thing, but our lives are happening RIGHT NOW. I’m especially aware of it because in two years my daughter will be getting ready to go off to college. I know how fast those years are going to pass, so I’ll frequently stop my busy thoughts and tell myself “This is it.” Meaning- THIS is my life, right now. Savor every moment!
I will say it’s very zen-like of you to have these thoughts in the middle of a midwestern winter- I definitely spent every winter up there waiting for it to end. Honestly, that was part of my thought process when I moved to Florida- I was tired of wishing half my life away every year.
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It’s funny how a bitterly cold snap can reset our idea of what cold weather is! I’m really looking forward to the milder temps will have for the next week or so. I’m definitely guilty of wishing the time away at times but now that the boys are getting a bit older. I don’t feel that way nearly as often!
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