You
know when they do those things where they ask you about a final
meal, or the thing you’d like to do one more time?
Have
you ever thought about the answers?
I
can think about things that I’ve done alone or experienced with
family and friends. Meals that have been cooked, evenings spent
around tables with cards or campfires, vacations and house projects
and all sorts of things.
But
if challenged with some types of bucket lists, of things I’d like
to do for once and things I’d like to do one last time, I’m not
sure which list would be easier to finish. Because the truth is,
I have some pretty special memories and experiences, and my guess
is that you do as well.
Incredibly,
there are some moments that involve absolutely nothing.
Really.
Nothing.
And
several of them.
Maybe
that’s not being fair. Sunsets would likely be a part of many
of those moments of nothing. Beautiful sunsets, especially surrounded
by people you care about in amazing locations, are fantastic (even
when you’re just standing there in silence taking it all in).
Not sure that nothing really works when given some deep thought.
But
in many ways, it is being fair. Any of us could fire up a grill
right now, invite some friends over, and break out good food and
drink. A summary of sorts might be that the bread you’re breaking
doesn’t need to be fancy to be delicious, especially when the
company is good.
A
few friends of mine have shared a common observation. They love
to make fun of people that seem to watch their lives pass through
their phones. They laugh at those so busy setting up the camera
on their phones to take pictures or videos, they forget to actually
take in the experience. It’s all through a lens. The live beauty
is never there.
They
have a point. A good one.
Some
of the greatest things from your life have no documentation. This
is especially true for the spontaneous moments… the ones not attached
to expected celebrations or gatherings. Yes, sure, there are probably
pictures of people blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.
But you didn’t have a camera handy for every sunset.
And
that brings us back around to the start.
I
could easily hit pecan rolls and pork pies. Mom’s Christmas cookies
would be up there. But the problem is, if I was going over food,
it would become a long list.
And
what about vacations? As much as I am ready to head back to Nashville
and Disney World and Australia and lots of other places, I still
haven’t been to Alaska.
There
are books I want to read and movies I want to see and… and…
Some
of those things are moments I’ll never get back to try again.
Because the reality is, the road ahead of me has a ton of things
that are going to be new and wonderful. The road behind me includes
family and friends I will never see again. And that’s ok.
Because
while the best of my life is in many ways behind me, every day
gives me the opportunity to make it one of the best as well. There
are great things ahead, and I don’t need a list for that.