Life

"One day your life will flash before your eyes.  Make sure it's worth watching." -Unknown

I've been thinking a lot lately about things I've learned over the years.  Things I want my kids to know.  I want them to have many more days like this one.  Days where we ditch the routine and run outside because the day is nice, and we have the opportunity to share some time together in the sunshine.  I want them to be free to be who they are and to be happy with that.  Even if that means not making the most money, or being the most popular, or any of the things that we adults complicate life with.  I want them to find their happiness and hold onto it.  I want them to learn that it's more important to be kind to others and to share who they are than it is to keep up with the lastest fashion trends, or to keep up with the crowd.  I hope they learn that when an opportunity arises to spend time making memories with those they love that they will jump on it, and not be distracted by things that seem more important at the time. I hope they learn to think before they speak especially when they are speaking to those they love.  Words are powerful and sometimes they can be sharp and once they are thrown in the direction of someone else they cannot be taken back.  I hope they learn to share how they feel, and that they do it often.  I hope they continue dreaming and that they work toward achieving them no matter what anyone else thinks because I know that each of them is meant to do great things.  I hope they chase after every opportunity life has in store for them, and I hope they embrace the outcome because even if it doesn't work out the way they planned, the most important part will be that they took a chance and tried.  These are the things I think of every time I look at this image.  So much of life is in front of them, and I am excited to see the path that each of them chooses to walk on.  Until then I will enjoy more moments exactly like this one.  I will laugh with them every chance I get, and I will tell them every day how much I love them because someday when my life flashes before my eyes, my time with them will be a big part of what makes it worth watching.