"Taking stock of what I have and what I haven't,
What do I find?
A healthy balance on the credit side..." Annie Get Your Gun
Two weeks ago, I climbed to the back of the attic and carried out two large plastic bins, containing decades worth of my old journals. I dusted them off and have spent the better part of the last two weeks reading through them, a daunting and mighty humbling experience. Can you say boy crazy? I mean certifiably insane. "I'm certain he's the one. I've known him twevle days."
Reading my old ramblings is part of an archaeological dig I've embarked on as I try to unearth meaningful moments from my past for possible use in the memoir of my future. Amidst the whining and pining over the man of the moment, I have discovered a few buried treasures. There are recurring themes of gratitude for family, love of nature, and valued friendships. There are career pursuits and dreams fulfilled and a constant search for spiritual truth. Above all, what occurs to me after reading through years of my innermost thoughts is that the happiest moments were not about money, achievement, or fame, but about the experiences created with the people I love most. With my dad now gone from the physical plane, I am so grateful that I have so many treasured memories to look back upon. While he was here, I didn't take him for granted. I spent tons of quality time with the one man who was a constant in my life. I appreciated him then, and I appreciate him even more now.
What would you find if you went digging through your past? What are the themes of your life's narrative? Are you investing today's currency in moments that will matter when you look back on them tomorrow? Ten years from now?
