Don’t Wait for the Perfect Time to Enjoy What Life Has to Offer

Live every moment as if it were your last

Photo by Daniel Xavier from Pexels

Yesterday my eleven-year-old son asked me to tuck him in bed and to stay with him until he was asleep. I was busy trying to get through my to-do list for the day and didn’t want the interruption to get me off track.

But then I remembered. It had been days since he’d asked for something like this.

When he was younger, tucking him in bed used to be a routine that we’d follow. I’d listen to his stories about the day, and he’d ask me questions he had on his mind. He’s always had an inquisitive mind, and he doesn’t shy away from asking about things that don’t make sense to him.

But now that he’s growing up, that routine has fallen apart. He’s got so many other things to do now. Now he kisses me goodnight and goes to his room. Therefore he surprised me when he asked me for our old ritual, and I wasted no time in giving up everything I was doing at that moment.

I tucked him in. I ran my fingers through his hair as we talked. And one thought constantly niggled away at the back of my mind — he’s growing up so fast. I don’t know how many more of these moments will I be able to enjoy before he feels he’s too old for this and finds it embarrassing.

A few weeks ago, one of my aunts passed away. The news of her death was shocking and unexpected. I had been at a family picnic with her, just the week before. She was absolutely fine and in perfect health. It didn’t seem logical; nothing made sense. Yet it happened, and there was nothing anyone could’ve done.

She had suffered a heart attack. The doctors had tried everything they could do but it wasn’t meant to be. It was her time to go.

Her family had recently moved back after living in Oman for more than thirty years. She had decorated every nook and corner of her new house with so much love. Who knew she was going to stay in that house for so little time.

Her sudden passing caused me to stop in my tracks and reflect. All I could think was what would happen if we knew how much more time do we have to live. Would we still go on living the same way as we do or would we do things differently then?