The Boring Stuff

"It might sound boring, but sometimes it's the boring stuff I remember most." -Boyscout to 78 year old Carl in the new Disney Pixar Movie Up.

I took my kids to this movie yesterday and found myself using concession stand napkins to wipe away tears at the end of the show. The overall message points to the truer meaning of life and relationships--one that we easily miss when we are so wrapped up in the daily issues and responsibilities of living.

Sometimes we wait our whole life long to have an adventure. We say that we will be happy when we get the next promotion. We think we will be content when we buy that brand new boat. We believe we will finally relax when we go on vacation.

We live so far into the future that we often forget to be present to the moment in front of us. Somehow we don't realize that today is part of our adventure. And that many times the most ordinary things are the things that are most missed when gone.

Comments

[Kim]

The lessons I didn't learn until my husband died...his death also taught me to slow down and appreciate the small gestures in life. As you say, the ordinary, the boring. Those can be the most precious memories. I have read many articles on your grief journey in our Lino Paper. Your writing is beautiful and will be a gift your children treasure as they grow older.

[lisa]

jennifer - i absolutely LOVE your book so far. i bought it from amazon two weeks ago and am half way through. when i am done i will borrow it to my mom and sister so that they can read your story. i think of shawn each time i drive by and see the shawn silvera sign on the way to duluth.
i wish things were different for you; i have learned so much about love and living each day through your writing and am thankful for that.

[Debbie]

I keep rereading your last sentence as tears run down my face and I think about all the ordinary things that I've been missing over the past almost 12 weeks since my husband died. Thanks for the important reminder to always be present in our lives. It's a reminder that I need constantly. Maybe I should have it tatooed on my forearm!