Appreciate the Moments While You Have Them

My father is now 82 years old. We affectionately suggest that he is held together with chicken wire. He had his first heart attack at age 35 and was amongst the earliest people to have open-heart surgery. Despite overwhelming odds, he survived. 15 years later he had another heart attack, followed by countless surgeries and procedures thereafter. At 78, he beat prostate cancer. For the last 50 years his medicine cabinet looked like a pharmacy. If hospitals had a frequent stay program he’d be platinum. My wife refers to him as the energizer bunny.

This past week brought yet another challenge. He spent the last 4 days in the hospital. The medical staff nearly killed him twice by attempting to give him the wrong medicine. Fortunately his mind is still brilliant. He caught both mistakes and refused to take the drugs. Last night he was released and I brought my family over to see him. As I entered the house I started to think about the blessing of still having both him and my mother at this stage of life. Their influence is making my children better people, and their presence is enhancing the lives of my wife and me. I have come to appreciate the moments while I have them.

Each time my father gets out of the hospital, he dusts himself off, gets back on his feet, and takes my mother on a trip somewhere in the world. The more obscure the location, the better. Acting on this passion for travel began after his first heart attack and never waned. I don’t think they’ve had a year since my dad’s initial heart attack where they didn’t visit at least 2 countries. Surviving a battle for life made them realize that life is meant to be enjoyed and that you must appreciate the moments while you have them.

If you are a parent, you are well aware of the stages of your children’s lives. From the helpless infant that melts in your arms, to the carefree smiling toddler, to the teenager that thinks she’s an adult, and every stage in between, they are all amazing. I like to get present in an appreciative mindset and just observe them: My eleven year-old wrapping her arms around my neck as I tuck her in at night or my 15 year-old running back a punt for a touchdown. Those are the moments to appreciate while you have them.

Life is a series of continuous moments. No two moments are the same. To truly maximize those moments you must be present in a state of appreciation. Think about what you are thankful for as it relates to the people you are with, then resist thinking about past or future and just focus on the moment you are in. Get yourself present in the mindset of appreciation. Enjoy the people you have in your life while you have them. Once these moments with them pass, they will never come back. Appreciate the moments while you have them.