Fortune Cookie Friday: Carpe Diem
Life moves fast. Before we know it, we’re asking ourselves where the time went. Opportunities can slip us by if we aren’t careful. That’s why we shouldn’t neglect those opportune moments when they arise.
How do we recognize and manage those moments when we should take a chance and go with it?
Time Management
People tend to make themselves busier than they need to be. We schedule so much into our days that we forget to leave room to appreciate the simple things in life, like smelling the flowers.
I always ensure that my weekly schedule is as flexible as possible. There are set work times to accomplish my tasks, both for myself and my clients. I also have a little wiggle room to take a break and capture some sparkling photos of a frosty winter sunrise or jot down silly phrases or illustrations when they occur. I even included some time to sit and ponder life and the world around me.
Even if we have multiple jobs or responsibilities, we need to block off some downtime to recharge. It’s during these times that we can take advantage of memorable moments. We can engage in activities that entertain, excite, or educate. They can also heal us.
Forecast Moments
There are fabulous activities that many of us wish we could do. We can take that memorable trip to a foreign country, learn a new skill, or get a new job. We can create a bucket list of things we want to do, so we recognize them when they arise.
Not every moment in life is happy. Sometimes we have to plan for the worst, but hope for the best. Since none of us is getting out of life alive, it helps to prepare for moments while we have the time.
My husband and I have lost enough loved ones to know that we don’t want to leave any loose ends for our kids when we finally leave this realm. Unfortunately, we don’t know when those days will come. So, we are finalizing our end-of-life care and wills. It’s been interesting to see all that we have accumulated and how we see the future together and apart.
Estate planning, visiting a sick friend or relative, or undergoing medical procedures aren’t something we want to think about, but it helps to recognize that they are a reality. Making note of impending moments and planning for them can make them easier to deal with. Sometimes, they may even turn out to be rewarding experiences.
Decisions, Decisions
If we accomplish forecasting and make time for opportunities, it will be easy to capitalize on them when they arise. However, there will be times when we have to choose between those moments and some other responsibility or activity. We have to weigh our options, and it is rarely easy.
I recall one long, arduous Friday in May 2024, when I had finally completed all my tasks, work, and meetings. It was late in the evening, and I was spent from running around. I could have vegged in front of the television and then gone to bed. Instead, I grabbed my camera and car keys and went on an adventure in the dark to capture the forecasted aurora borealis. Even my hubby came along.
The event was something I had on my list of experiences, and I had the opportunity to see it from close to home. I wasn’t sure if we would be able to see much so close to the city. We went to a favorite spot for bird watching and found it dark enough to watch the ribbons of color blanket the stars.
When the decision to do something is tough, our best bet is to learn to pivot. This means taking a moment to assess our options or look at them from a different perspective, and then changing direction.
Can we postpone an activity? Do we have to put off an opportunity till the end of the day? I know that sounds contradictory to seizing the day, but in the short term, it can still be a feasible option.
We may want to run carefree along a sunny beach, but we also can’t shirk our duties. Some opportunities can’t be passed up, while others can wait for a more opportune moment.
Live In the Moment
When we finally grab that brass ring, enjoy it. We shouldn’t let our worries or regrets diminish the experience.
There have been too many times when I struggled to focus my camera on a subject when I should have been just enjoying the opportunity to witness it.
Savor the moment. Put it to memory. Let it fill the soul.
Carpe Diem
Seizing opportunities that are once-in-a-lifetime or needed regularly makes us happier, healthier, and more humble people. Make time for them, recognize when they occur, and find the joy in each one of them.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present,” ~Anonymous
