I Was Thinking . . . Enjoy It

For those of us who have lived in the Upper Midwest all our lives, we know how fleeting summer can be. This period of warmth seems so limited compared to the long winter months. So, it is natural that we try to cram so much into this precious time as possible.

Homeowners plant flowers and vegetable gardens, knowing full well that the first hard frost will turn their beauty to plants that will wither and fade. Nonetheless, each year we take advantage of our short season and make the most of it. In our rush to “do it all”, we often don’t take the time to enjoy it.  

In the past, I’ve compared small children and the elderly with both having the ability to sit back and see the small things. Butterflies floating by, clouds drifting aloft, or birds in the yard in constant pursuit of a meal are noticed and appreciated. 

But for many, they are too busy trying to enjoy the summer to notice. They need to get to the lake, play golf, go on vacation, paint the house, manicure the lawn, go to a ball game, wax the car, take the boat out, visit relatives, trim the trees, etc. etc. etc.  Each and every one of those things and many more are all legitimate uses of our time. Many times, we are glad to see fall come around when schedules kick in, and we can relax again.  

Too often we put such effort into getting everything done, that we don’t have the time to enjoy what we are trying to do. We wash the deck, stain the deck, put new railings on the deck, but don’t have time to actually sit on the deck. 

The flowers we bought, planted, tended, and weeded, thrive and produce blooms but we seldom take the time to just walk among them to enjoy what has developed. Most of my neighbors take pride in their lawns and fertilize, trim, water and mow them. But how often do they ever walk barefoot through the lush green carpet they have helped to create. Many of my generation were indoctrinated with a work ethic to get things done. But seldom were we told to stop and smell the roses.    

In today’s society, it is hard to escape our array of devices that compete for our attention.  Phones seem to have become an extension of our very being.  Some feel almost lost if their phone is not within arm’s reach. In addition to an occasional call, it beeps to alert us of a text or the most recent Facebook post. 

Although a family may take in a summer parade, go to a ball game, or spend a day at the lake, many times the activities they went to enjoy become secondary to the small screen they hold in their hand. They may miss the float, the home run, or an eagle soaring above because their focus is on an electronic device.

In the early years of our marriage, we often visited the farm of my wife’s two bachelor uncles. They lived at the end of a long driveway off of a gravel road. In the summer, after supper, we would sit on the lawn chairs under a large oak tree with a single swing hanging down from ropes. The only sounds were the wind in the trees, the call of birds, an occasional moo of a cow and our own conversations. It was a perfect setting to enjoy the peace of the countryside and the fellowship of family.  

It sometimes takes a real effort to slow down enough to enjoy the people and things around us. Very few people on their death bed wished they had worked more. It is amazing how fast the seasons change, our children grow, and time passes. What good are the fruits of our labor if we never take time to enjoy them?

Did You Ever Wonder? - Is it true cannibals don’t eat clowns because they taste funny?