Momservation: You can’t always do it right the first time. But if you appreciate that there was a first time, you did something right.
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So last night I saw this great movie with my girlfriends. If it had been up to me, we would’ve gone and seen Chris Hemsworth in the new Thor movie at 5:20, 7:15, and 9:05 p.m. But it wasn’t my birthday celebration. Although the girls did capture this nice moment with me and my imaginary boyfriend:
They also pitched in to get me this so Thor and I can be together at night while he’s off protecting the universe with his big giant hammer:
(You gotta love a girlfriend who buys you a present at the popcorn counter at her birthday celebration and encourages the delusion of a fantasy Hollywood love muffin.)
Anyway, the movie we went to see, About Time, ended up being a delightful multi-generational love story with a quirky premise told with both humor and poignancy. But what I loved about it the most was its message—the same message that has always been the purpose of this blog and my life:
Tomorrow is not promised. Make the most of today.
Though the main character, Tim, in this charmingly told story set in England, is able to travel back in time to moments in his life where he can take a second shot at doing it right, he realizes the best way to do it right the first time is to live his life with perspective. He learns to have eyes that see with clarity and appreciation for all this life has to offer—love and laughter, family and friends, joys and sorrows, moments momentous and mundane—that you don’t need a do-over if you live each moment with the perspective of gratitude and intent to enjoy the journey.
So, yes, this blog today is a movie review. Go see About Time.
But it’s also a refresher to the message I try to put out there every week through funny anecdotes, tips lists, tales of observation, motivation and commiseration (and hopefully why you keep coming back to Momservations®). It is the secret to not needing a do-over:
Enjoy the journey.
- Play with your kids. They grow up too quickly. Even when you’re tired. Even when there’re things that need to be done. No one goes to their grave happy they got that last load of laundry done.
- Do things together as a family. Laugh together. Cry together. Eat meals together. Make messes together. Whatever it is, do it together.
- Be there to love and support your kids. If you put in excellence, you get excellence in return.
- Take “maybe later” out of your vocabulary. Whatever it is—do it now. Live in the moment and live a life of no regrets.
- Consider every day a shave your legs and put on a bra worthy day.
- Don’t waste energy being mad or holding grudges. Life is too short to have wasted time trying to prove a point.
- Never be stingy with an “I love you” or a hug. Consider them bottomless resources.
- Make Chumbawamba’s Tubthumping your theme song: I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down.
- Go in search of happiness instead of waiting for it to find you. Choose to measure your wealth in simple joys and gratitude.
- Take risks. Step outside your comfort zone. Be open to new experiences. Like Wayne Gretzky said: “One hundred percent of shots you don’t take don’t go in.”
- Make your family and friends a priority. What’s most important in this life is your relationships. Value them. Nurture them. Protect them. Revel in them. I’d take girlfriends who would indulge my silly fantasies and buy me a Thor t-shirt over a date with my DVR any night.
Feel free to share your own secrets for enjoying the journey…even if it’s as simple as warm popcorn, cold rootbeer, box of Junior Mints, and your imaginary boyfriend fighting bad guys for you on the big screen.