Anticipating tomorrow

For weeks the kids have been counting down the days to their summer trip to California.  “I wish it was Wednesday” was a sentence I heard over and over again.  Wednesday morning finally came.  Everyone was up early, the excitement was in the air.   Once we were on the plane, the captain announced a flight time of an hour and forty minutes, to which the kids replied “Oh I hope it goes by really, really fast.” 

Thankfully it didn’t go by too slow, we touchdown, we are finally HERE.  They can barely contain themselves as we grab our bags, get off the plane and half walk, half run to those waiting outside the doors.  Hugs all around, the excitement overflows. 

The car is filled with chatter catching everyone up on all the relevant events.  We arrive at the house and begin to get settled, though the excitement is still bubbling just under the surface.  When we start to talk about the days to come and the activities planned, we hear the reply “I wish it was Friday!”  I said “We’ve spent all this time wishing it was Wednesday and it’s finally here.  Let’s have fun today and not wish for Friday yet.”

Why is it so hard for us to stay in the moment?  Now granted, this story is about a nine year old, but I know that we have all been guilty of this at some point in time.  We’ve been so conditioned to prepare for what’s ahead that when we get there we are just passing through.  We check it off the list and move on to the next.  We put more value in the number of things that we’ve been able to do, than the experience itself.

Father’s Day gives us an easy opportunity to stay in the moment.  No matter how you celebrate today, a phone call, special meal, family gathering or something else, take a minute to stop and soak it all in.  Observe all that is going on around you.  Appreciate the imprint that all the “fathers” have made on you, your children, your family and your friends.

The harder part is when the celebrating is over.  When we’re back in our routine, faced with our to do lists, meetings and activities.  It’s easy to slip back into anticipating tomorrow.  Just remember that the only moment that you can control, is the one you are in right now.

Enjoy today.

Heart-FULLy yours, 

Kacey