Enjoying and Never Forgetting
Cherishing Life and Being More Grateful for Experiences
Before we get into today’s topic, I want to try this new thing now where I briefly discuss how I came to the idea of this topic because I think a lot of people could be curious generally where writers (I don’t know if I’d call myself one, but I will for these purposes) come up with their inspirations for stories.
For starters: I’m home right now, and have been home the last 2.5 days, sick. It started with a weak little cold and after some more thinking me and my parents decided well, hey, why don’t we test this kid for COVID just in case, and low and behold, I have COVID. Truly embarrassing.
The reason of how this is relevant to today’s topic is because for a while, I feel I haven’t been as happy as I should be while doing things that should be fun to me, not really taking them in enough. With now being home with all my of my own thoughts and conscious, I’m especially thinking of this more and more.
I was at a concert this past weekend and it was definitely really fun, but I didn’t feel as good as I thought I would about it. This is more most definitely more of a bigger personal issue, but the idea is sitting at home with all my thoughts makes me think like “Damn, that could be the last time I ever go to a concert, and I feel like I didn’t put enjoy it enough while I was in the moment.” It very well may not be the last, but I really have no idea what could happen in the future.
Another example is that on any day it could be the last time you ride your skateboard, and if you’re not really valuing and appreciating all those amazing times with it, it won’t feel as special when you stop riding one day. Every time you go out for some fun is really one less time you do that action in your life.
This idea brings us into today’s topic which is going to briefly talk about cherishing our lives more along with important memories and experiences from the use of a certain quote that’s been flying around in my head these past few weeks. So, let’s get right into it.
A Simple, But Beautiful Quote
I actually found this quote from author, writer, and motivational speaker Mr. James Clear, very well known from his book Atomic Habits. (which I have also talked about briefly in another article on Substack called The Beauty of Habits…just saying!)
The quote comes from his emailed newsletter which I get every Thursday, which always are enjoyable to take a look at. He posts a 3-2-1 set up which is 3 Ideas from him, 2 Quotes from others, and 1 Question for his subscribers.
I remember after seeing this one particular quote he had added, it really make me think a lot about it.
It’s from Entrepreneur and Creative Director, Andrew Anabi, on his own way of how to cherish life more:
"When life changes, you will probably miss the way it was. You may miss those long morning drives or walks to the office, or those hectic family gatherings. You may miss them because those moments are finite — you will only travel those streets and see those people a certain amount of times.
Every time you do something that is one less time you do it. One day you will do something the final time and you will rarely know when that day comes.
For all you know, today might be the last time you walk in a particular neighborhood. Or it might be the last time you smile at a particular someone. To think otherwise, would be foolish. Nothing is guaranteed, except this moment. Your only real choice is to cherish every exchange like it is your last — because it very well might be.
Therefore, the best way to cherish life is to remind yourself of life's impermanence. It is to remember that every time you see someone that is one less time you see them. It is to remember that every time you go somewhere that is one less time you visit. By doing this, you naturally slow down. Almost like a reflex, you start to truly live."
Source: How to Cherish Life (hat tip to Gaby Goldberg)
Let’s Talk About It
If I’m being honest, many quotes I see don’t really resonate with me too often, but this one really got to me because of generally how prominent it is in my own life.
If you don’t know, I am a first year college student starting this month at my local community college and most of my friends are going away for 4-year-schools. With having COVID, it makes everyday one less chance I get to see them all and enjoy one more fun summer before a new chapter in our lives begin. Before new people come around, new challenges, goals, and whatever else comes at us. When I was at that concert I mentioned before, it made me think how this is one less time I will be at a concert in my life, which made me really deeply shelter that memory more in my heart, as well that being an concert I was at with my best friend before he’s off to college, and a band we’ve wanted to see together for such a long time.
This idea of doing something and subtracting it off a bullet board isn’t really the idea as much as it sounds like it. I personally interpret this more as making sure you’re doing the most you can with that time because one day you might not be able to do it as much or anymore. You may not be able to enjoy it as much as you used to, be able to learn from it, or even find something within it.
The other side of the coin is it’s not always the best idea to consider how doing an action is “One less time you’ll do it,” because it sounds a little upsetting, but at the same time it kind of is the truth. Every time you wake up is one less time you’ll wake up. Every time you go to a wrestling practice is one less time you get a workout in with your team, and one less practice till your last match in your life. Every time you go to English class is one less time you go to class and see all your friends in one place in a school setting.
God, I mean, life really does fly. It’s bad when I’m literally 18-years-old and saying that already.
And as scary as that can be, because, hell, it is, it’s important to always hold onto all the little moments and of course, the bigger moments. They may only happen one time and after that one time happens, it could very well never happen again.
Take in everything, have fun, and enjoy your life. Life is fucking short. Cherish everything. Friends, family, activities, and even school (which I’m sure for anyone in school is a big “Hell no”, but trust me you’ll probably miss it, even if it’s only a little.)
All in all, enjoy your good times and even the bad times, cherish them, learn from them, and use them for good. They may only come once, a few times, or for a while, but never forever. But please, do yourself a favor, and never forget them.