I saw this video on Stacy Julian's blog and it left me feeling both inspired and incredibly daunted. In 5 years I'll be 43 (Good Hell!) and better not still be sitting at the computer trying to motivate myself to do something or wondering where money for Christmas is going to come from or feeling like my pants are too tight or that I need to go to an all turtle-neck wardrobe because of my chins.
Even more upsetting is that Landon will be 16 (somebody give me a valium), Whitney will be 14 and Randy will be 47! I tend not to look too far into the future, I'm thinking there's a good reason for that.
**Thoughts??**
Comment Window Tidbit: I just experienced Wal-Mart with the added delight of all the high school kids going there for lunch. I have no hope for the future now.
18 comments:
Jimmy actually said at the dinner table last night "you guys are almost grown and I haven't done all the fun things I want to with you yet..." It is depressing to think of it like that. These last five years have not been my most impressive. I have decided that for this month of December I am "in training" - I can't flip the switch on January 1st and change (obviously, I've tried)... I feel myself coming back a bit and feel a renewed hope for this next year... I hope it lasts and that I can finally move toward something good.
Can you believe we have scaled back so much that "where is Christmas money going to come from?" has fallen off of our radar... I can't believe how much less stress I feel now that all of the extras have fallen of the list... it is oddly freeing.
I'm ok with our ages in five years but somehow I have to stop the kids!
Yeah, youths are awful.
Well, I thought the video was nice, but I am a firm believer that the best moments in our lives are the small ones, and that the most important things any of us will ever do will not be in jungles or in grand cathedrals, but in our homes and circles of friends. Accrued at the end of five years, the most important things we've done probably wouldn't make a very snazzy video, but I think that's the nature of mortality. We will always have to motivate ourselves. Columbus had to motivate himself with baby steps, you know? What about the five years before his big five years? And the five years before that? Also, he was insane crazy.
I, for one, hope that you are still sitting at your computer in five years.
I think "Good Hell" says it all. I can't think about it.....
I love Amie's comment- we can't flip a switch on January 1st. Too bad but so true.
I feel similarly about the future when I'm at Wal-Mart at lunch time.
I can't play the video but still appreciate your thoughts. I don't like to look ahead but have been thinking that maybe I need to! Isn't dreaming similar to looking ahead? To wanting more? Wanting better? And I have been haunted a bit by the quote you shared from Elder Holland. Prayer and dreaming need to be given higher priority in my life so I don't regret the next five years.
high schooler's go to walmart for lunch?
loved the video.. I am going to share that on my blog I think... it is motivating to think about the future... I agree with amie, I can totally deal with how old I will be, but my kids? oh that is the hard one!
When I was visiting Utah I was parked at the light and children from the high school walked into the mini mart at the gas station for lunch. Perhaps Wal-Mart is a step up? :-)
Fun video - I feel your worry - to think in 5 years I might have a married child!?!!! As well as a 11year old! HA HA HA!
Well, I hope that in 5 years my house has sold and I am finally relocated. Ha!
Ok - not funny -
I agree with the comment about the most important things you can do are within your own walls of your home and within your circle of friends. That to me is the defination of accomplishment...
Rest assured - I will always be older than you! THAT should make you feel better! :-)
Sometimes I think 5 years is not that far away, but when I think that 5 years ago I didn't even have PQ, and in 5 more years she will be 9 -- it puts a little more perspective on it. I liked Rebekah's comments about moments. 5 years is daunting to look at in a big chunk. And like Jenn, I've been thinking a lot about that Elder Holland quote. This is always that time of year for me, when I feel like I try to rearrange my insides. It would be helpful if it was a less busy month to go about such internal renovations.
If you think more of what you can do in your own sphere of influence it is not so daunting.
Love your snowy festive yard! And that Michelle is home for you. Although I will miss her Paris posts!
This was a motivating video! Thank you for posting it. It's definitely good food for thought, especially as I think about new years resolutions.
POWERFUL!!!
if you get some of that valium pass it this way-
Your comment window tidbit made me laugh.
My good friend's Dad owns Top Stop and we ate their every day for lunch in high school. Diet coke and a muffin. Lift was grand.
Watching your video all I can think is 'Good Hell' myself! I don't want to discover a new country or save 100 gorillas. In five years I want to be done having kids, overcome my fear of giving the birds and the bees talk and maybe a remodeled kitchen. Until then it's making dinner, folding laundry and hopefully some great moments along the way.
In 5 years Blake will be going on a mission! I can't even think that far ahead. I will cry. This video does make you think though. I have a lot of improvement that's for sure.
i agree with you that it's both inspiring and daunting. i don't really WANT to paint the ceiling of my master bathroom, much less one in a cathedral, but i'm feeling guilt about both for some reason.
sorry about landon's arm. yikes. if it makes you feel any better, it really IS a big deal that he's 11 and has only broken one bone. my daughter allie has had SIX sets of stiches, and...hold on your hat...EIGHT broken bones. ya, if she breaks anything else they might throw me in jail.
Wow, I loved Rebekah's comment. So very, very true. And so beautifully articulated!
We just watched "It's a Wonderful Life" tonight and her comment is perfectly synchronized with my thoughts after watching that amazing movie. It's the cumulative effect of many little, steady moments with people in everyday ways that make greatness in a life.
And YOU are very good at that. VERY good. Probably at your best, even, with your children.
I think because our lives our diluted with the necessary tasks of daily living we forget how powerful we truly are - but as someone else said - in small ways.
Jill, I always think it is amazing how you read and comment on so many people's blogs, make and send good mail and do about a million things for your family and friends. You have no idea how those efforts ripple outward and are changing lives.
So think of the rest of us as the 100 gorillas you are saving!
Hilarious comment tidbit.
Maybe I'm just tired and ornery but that video tried to boss me around and I resent that. Too much pressure! I can't even pull myself off the couch to wash my face and go to bed. For crying out loud.
I just keep wondering when my life coach is going to show up.
For me we have lived in this perpetual state of "When you are finished with school we will do.." or "when we finally settle down..." which I hate. I've done a moderate job at not living my life based on a future time period (in some things), but sometimes I lack any type of motivation.
I love these comments! Especially Rebekah's, it just put a big smile on my face.
I have a hard time looking forward 5 years. Max going on a mission?! Come on!
I have to take it in baby steps. What am I doing today to make sure that I don't have regrets 5 years from now?
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