The sun would shine down on the backyard, infusing
the air with its hot breath. The only refuge was the shade of the towering evergreen
tree on the other side of the fence in the neighbor’s yard.
Dust mixed with the sweat of my brow encrusted itself
into brushed streaks as my hand swiped away the beaded perspiration. The
intensity of the moment causes time to stand still as the inspection of the
flutter of wings takes on all the importance of the discovery of the ages.
All those years ago, the life of a child was
simple. It was the long summer nights filled with friends playing in the
neighborhood, or sipping on lemonade as the elders shared their stories. It was
watching the northern lights dance on a brisk fall evening, cheering on the
home team, and meeting up with friends on the first day of school.
As time moves forward, life becomes more
complicated and the world a much smaller place. The world becomes noisy, clingy,
and needful. The days of loitering in front of the Tastee Freeze™, watching
people come and go, long gone. There is always some place to be and so many
more places to go.
There is nothing more precious in the world than
the gift of life where every moment matters. Being fulfilled requires a bit of
childlike behavior. Note, I said childlike, not childish. There is a
difference. Be kind to one another. Be generous with your time, talent, and
treasure. Be wild and free in your dreams, and never let them die for the sake
of someone else. Fill every moment of every day with the things that create
happiness in your life.
Fill each moment with that precious breath called
life. Live on, and live well.
