As I was looking through costumes in a department store two days before Halloween, Christmas music was playing on their sound system. This morning, ten days before Thanksgiving, I saw a brightly-lit Christmas tree as I walked in the early morning darkness.
I can remember when we saw nothing about Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. In fact, my mother always spent the day after Thanksgiving putting up Christmas decorations. I certainly enjoy the Christmas holiday season, but I like to observe it in season, not when another special day is approaching.
I hear my graduating seniors say, "I can't wait until I finish this semester; I am so tired of school. I can't wait to get out and get a job." Or you may hear a fellow employee say, "I need a vacation so much. I can't wait until the holiday weekend."
Instead of wishing time away or skipping one special day to get to another, let's enjoy each day as it comes. Live the present to the fullest. Get all you can out of today.
I remember a student who moved his chair almost to my desk and I kept bumping his chair as I moved around the room. I suggested that he might want to have a little more personal space by moving back. His response was, “I came to college as a freshman ten years ago and I did not apply myself and flunked out. I now appreciate what a college education means and I am committed to get as much out of my education as possible. I sit in this spot in each class because I don't want to miss anything this time around."
My guess is that some of your most memorable days in life have been those "normal" routine days when you gave your all to that day. I recall a presentation on one routine class day in the middle of the semester. A special needs student who could not move any part of his body below his neck gave a demonstration speech on "how to wiggle your ears." That was a day I will never forget. Think what I would have missed in life if I had skipped that day!
When my son was not yet two, he and I went outdoors on a routine Sunday afternoon to enjoy the first signs of spring. Since he had learned to walk during the winter, it was his first opportunity to walk outdoors in warm weather. To enjoy that experience from a toddler's perspective was special.
I look forward to the holiday season in a few weeks. For right now, however, I'm excited about today!
