Happy Hump Day, my friend.
It's that time of the year where summer is slowly transitioning to fall. In San Francisco, this is the time when we start to get our good weather -- the cold, wet, windy summer begins to wane and we finally get to trade our summer parkas for less bulky layers and some sunshine.
The changing of the seasons has me thinking about the sometimes slow, sometimes sudden changes in our lives, and how we can use the idea that "change is inevitable" to give ourselves reassurance when life feels difficult, but also to help us cherish moments when life feels good.
"This won't be forever," serves this purpose for me, and I thought why not share and see if this phrase might help do the same for you, too.
-L
🕰 This Won’t Be Forever
This past weekend I got to sit by and watch as my mother-in-law and father-in-law took turns loving my daughter. While getting to see laughter, celebration, and joy surrounding just about every move my daughter made, I had one of those out-of-body moments where I knew what I was experiencing was special -- a moment in which I was aware, "This won't be forever."
Of course, this phrase could be referencing the specific visit we were having with my in-laws (which did end a few hours later), but in that moment my awareness was deeper than that. In that moment, I could feel the preciousness and fleeting nature of this type of moment in my life and it made me tear-up with gratitude.
As strange as this might be to say, I know there will be a time in my life when Jasmine will no longer get to experience the physical love of her four living grandparents -- even as I'm writing this, I'm faced with the reality that my mother-in-law is two years into fighting a type of breast cancer that is manageable, but ultimately incurable. There is no guarantee on how much time we'll get together.
Is it heartbreaking to acknowledge that I won't get to watch these moments of love and joy forever? Yes. In a way I don't totally know how to express. But also, and perhaps more importantly, it's a reminder of how blessed I feel when I get to see my mother-in-law laughing at and creating memories with Jasmine. Getting to watch her is a reminder that, while we can't know how much time we have, we can love and cherish and appreciate the moments we do get to experience together while we're all still here.
Whatever you're experiencing in life right now -- the beautiful, the tragic, the frustrating, the glorious -- take a moment to zoom out and consider that it won't be forever.
Life will inevitably change.
You will inevitably change.
It won't be forever.
⏸ Pause & Reconnect
Remember, there are no right or wrong answers — just what’s true for you.
Is there something in your life that feels challenging right now? What if you knew it wouldn't be forever? How might you approach it differently?
Is there something in your life that feels beautiful right now? What if you knew it wouldn't be forever? How might you appreciate it differently?
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