Today is my chance
Margot
How is it almost February!? I feel like I’ve barely blinked since Christmas. With the polar vortex holding us prisoner indoors for what feels like an entire month (oh, wait - it HAS been an entire month!), a saying my Mom once shared with me [about parenting] has never rung more true: The days are long, but the years are short.
Today, Liza Cate wanted to walk from the coffee shop to the car on her own two feet. Instead of her usual request for me to “Pickey Up”, she reached up, grabbed my hand and said “Walk, Mama!” with an adventurous gleam in her eye. My tiny, bouncing, blue-eyed ginger proceeded to walk the two blocks to our car, through sunny and bustling Linden Hills, with a smile that beamed freedom, joy and pride in every direction. She didn’t need me, or anyone else, to reinforce her pride in herself. Her light shined, simply because she was embracing the moment, and courageously following her heart. As I soaked in this precious moment, watching my daughter’s spirit soar, my heart bursted with joy and heartbreak all at the same time. The years go too fast, indeed; but they get sweeter along the way.
As I drove us home, I thought about a quote that Ali Certain shared in her yoga class last week: “Today is my chance". This sums up Liza Cate’s spirit, today and every day. And while I’m guiding her through this big, crazy world, so often she is the one teaching me.
Today is our chance to build beautiful memories. Today is our chance to indulge in the unbridled joy these memories bring. Today is our chance to embrace the moment, and courageously follow our hearts.
