Are Always in a Rush?

By the time I was 20 years old, I had two toddlers under the age of three. I remember feeling like I was constantly just trying to make it through the day. I couldn’t wait for them to get older so things would feel a little easier, for them to become a little more independent and self-sufficient.

Then one day, I looked up and they were teenagers.

I realized that I wasn’t fully present in a lot of those moments because I was so focused on simply getting through the day. Time moved so fast, and before I knew it, my two little babies had become young men.

When I had my daughter years later at 29, I remember telling myself that I wanted things to be different this time. I wanted to be as present as I could be. I wanted to truly experience every season of our life together from the newborn stage to the toddler years and everything in between.

And while none of it was easy, I found myself having so much more patience. I found joy in the little things.

What I want to convey is this: be present in the moment, because every moment we have is a gift from God. When we are constantly distracted or just trying to survive the day, we can miss some of life’s most precious moments. That may sound cliché, but it’s true.

Sometimes I catch myself in a hurry even when I’m not actually going anywhere. I’ll be sitting at my desk shaking my leg really fast, rushing internally for no reason at all. It’s not anxiety or nervousness I think it’s because when you’ve lived in survival mode for so long, you become used to urgency. Everything feels important. Everything feels rushed.

And even when life becomes calmer, it can still be hard to slow down.

So now, when I notice myself doing that, I stop for a second. I take a breath. I remind myself to slow down and just be in the moment.

Maybe you’re in a season where you feel like you’re barely making it through the day. I understand that feeling deeply. But don’t forget to look up sometimes. Don’t forget to be present for the small moments too.

Some of the most meaningful moments in life are the ones we almost rush past.