Susan asked me to guest blog because she's running out of good ideas. Just kidding! She's been trying to get me to blog for over a year now and I actually started one last summer but in my mind I knew I would never write at a high enough quality to make it interesting. The funny thing is, I always enjoyed writing. In fact, not a lot of people know this about me but I started as a journalism major but couldn't handle the parameters of the job and downright shallow expectations of the profession. I was worried my personal blog would be filled with KC Royals statistics and random Husker thoughts. Believe it or not, I will admit Susan might be right. After all, she is a doctor and she's pretty smart so maybe I do have something interesting to say (or not).
The real reason I never blog is because I fool myself into thinking I don't have time. Just the same as I do about reading the Bible daily (working on this), calling my family members (I really am sorry...), and washing the dishes (probably not going to change). However, I am excited to do this...and I am not a "phase" person who changes their likes/dislikes often, usually I stick with something I am excited about.
Sometimes, I feel like life goes way too fast - the coach in me likes to use cliches, anecdotes, and comparisons so bear with me. One minute I have hair on my head (not my back) and driving my 1988 Honda Prelude with a freshly printed license around Omaha and a few minutes later here I am without hair on my head, driving to a real job, and raising two children. How did it all happen? Where did the time go? Often, when people ask how things are going I tell them its been a whirlwind. Not the answer they want to hear as most people prefer a simple "good" or "fine". That's right - I compare my life to a blast of wind that's here and gone, sometimes in a few blinks of the eye. There's nothing you can do to prevent it, but I think maybe you can soak up parts of it while it's present.
I heard a sermon a few years ago that pleaded with us not to wish our lives away with anxiety and countdowns to the next big thing. Since hearing that message, I have made a concerted effort to enjoy the little events, big moments, and the beautiful (don't tell anyone I actually said/typed "beautiful") things in life. Susan is phenomenal at capturing these with the camera, but I capture them in my mind.
Occasionally, when I am driving to work at 6:15 AM in the pitch dark I think about those moments. The walks in the evening with Susan and the boys, the smell of firewood burning in the distance as the leaves turn orange (or brown - since I am supposedly color deficient) and crispy, eating chocolate chip ice cream with Susan while the boys sleep in the other room, taking my brothers to the pumpkin patch on a perfect fall day, enjoying Husker games with family who don't mind me complaining and then cheering, and listening to music that doesn't have words (thanks John Williams Pandora website).
When I look back on this time in my life and feel really busy, I don't want to recall: the nights Susan was on call and I was mad about having to cook (i.e. order pizza and pack the boys in the car), the fact that I ignorantly took 6 graduate hours while starting a new job 25 miles away, getting really frustrated at work, constantly changing diapers...all of which is, a.k.a. the whirlwind. It's important to slow it down and revel in the things that are actually important that won't always be here (like my hair, the Prelude, and somewhat in-shape body that could complete a triathlon were at one time).
The historian and man in me is constantly thinking about legacies, particularly what makes people great, remembered, loved and admired. History tends to remember people who made unpopular decisions, went against the grain, took risks, and made wise/rational decisions, and carved their own path (which probably explains why I am obsessed with Lewis & Clark and the pioneers). In this busy world, it's easy to get trapped believing there isn't time and you can't enjoy but I will prove you can enjoy life regardless of what is bogging you down. I am bound to not allow busyness, my job, and other factors out of my control determine my fate.
I have been convicted to do this, and encourage anyone still with me at this point, to slow life down whenever possible and enjoy the best part...the present...because it's a gift.
Susan - thanks for letting me disrupt your incredible blog with my harangue. I am not convinced you are right yet about this whole blogging thing but it felt good. Oh yeah, rest assured I will not bore you in the future with exciting topics I had originally planned, such as: my rationale for dropping David Akers from my fantasy football team in Week 7, why the Royals should sign Alex Gordon to a long-term contract, or why people are way too critical of Taylor Martinez.
No comments:
Post a Comment