As I’ve gotten older, I have become wiser and more aware of what’s really important in life…I don’t get so caught up anymore in the things that may appear so important in the moment, but realistically will not be a year from now. At the end of the day, these things are just not worth it and are a waste of energy. I have also become more cognizant of how precious a commodity time is and to use it wisely. I have often wished certain moments in time could stand still, especially those instances where the people, places and things that mean a lot to me were involved.

Unfortunately, times moves on for us all, we can’t go back, no matter how much we wish we could, especially to those more care-free days of our youth. I do miss those times, though, and will reflect on them sometimes still, particularly if I’m in the midst of a hardship or in a mundane moment. I find this to be especially true in those challenging moments with Brian. We know the mundane and repetition in our lives as a result of our kid’s disabilities is for a lifetime. The physical and mental strength that is required is the same. I get overwhelmed sometimes by these realities. Whatever little free time I do have must be used wisely for my well being and longevity in this marathon with my son. This is not an option. And I have choices to make..

I get to choose what, where, and with whom I am spending my free time with. Sometimes, I like time to myself in order to regroup and reset. Regardless of how I spend my time, I want to make sure that I feel comfortable, edified, and at peace. Anything to the contrary tells me that something is wrong and I need to make a different choice. Creating and maintaining boundaries is a part of this process and is essential to one’s well being and self respect. In the past, I struggled with putting boundaries into place with myself and others because of how it was going to be perceived. Hard learned lessons and acknowledgment of my own needs, but not at the expense of others, eventually changed my perspective and actions. I am grateful to be in a much better place today and make better decisions for myself as a result, at least most of the time…

There are many distractions in the world that may threaten to steal your precious time or guilty voices that may say you “shouldn’t”’do something or don’t really deserve to- especially because our special children need so much and can take up all of our time- don’t listen to this internal dialogue! One day you will run out of time and may experience the regret for not spending it well, which is the biggest tragedy of all…

So, make the time and take the cat nap, read a book, grab coffee with a friend, get your nails done, make vacation plans, take that class, realize the dream you’ve been postponing for years, pick up that instrument, use your voice, take that extra long bath or shower, and my absolute favorite: doing nothing at all, which is actually doing something. Whatever floats your boat or rocks your world, it’s time to do it and time you will never get back, so make every second count!

It’s now time to wrap this blog up- wishing you precious moments of time well spent for yourself and with the ones you love. Until next time, thanks for reading along! 😊