There are periods of your life, where the smiles come easier and a feeling of calm and wonder pervades. Do not let these moments go, hold on with both hands if necessary, because you are blessed. How much of life passes by in a blur of forgotten small stresses? The shoes you can’t find. The train or bus you miss. The child that will not get dressed and is late for school. Being passed over at work. There are a thousand tiny things that fill us with thoughts of our own powerlessness and inadequacy and yet…
There are also the small times that shine a light on all the goodness and the greatness. They rarely involve mountains of cash or trophies, but they make you feel like you are exactly where you should be. That it really is, a wonderful and interesting world. That you can meet your dreams if you just reach out open-handed.
I call these the “perfect moments” and they last a lifetime. My life is made up of these small wonders; the bits in between – often fuzzy and out of focus. There is often a graininess to other memories, almost as if they begin fading out even as we’re making and storing them. A perfect moment can be recalled in a heartbeat, its freshness, the smells and sounds, retained in perfect Technicolor detail. I like to think of it as life in HD.
Today’s moment was walking in the sunshine at a hot air balloon festival. My husband reached out to take my hand and pull me just a little closer. It wasn’t a statement of undying love or an expensive piece of jewelry. There were no diamonds and rubies in tissue paper. But that moment was one of the most romantic of my life. Because he wanted me in his space, to touch me in front of a thousand other walking spectators and he wasn’t even thinking about it.
The Albuquerque, New Mexico International Balloon fiesta. (October 2007) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It made me feel loved, wanted and content. I’ll cherish it and put it away in a box of memories reserved for the not so perfect times.
Comments as always, welcome.
Related articles
- The First-Timer’s Guide to Hot Air Balloon Festivals in the U.S (bootsnall.com)
- Perfect Moment (n2cs.wordpress.com)
Just what I needed to hear as I think about the past month with my husband and the lovely moments before his return to work in Afghanistan for another 4 months. Couldn’t have put it better myself.
Thanks Arran, it’s funny how these snapshots of happiness can help so much when we need them. I hope you are well.
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I needed this today. Thank you.
Hi Tamara, thank you for the beautiful comment. Whatever is going on, I wish you peace.
Beautiful! I often try to remind myself to focus on the moment– I forget a lot, but when I do, it is magical. I love this post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Cheryl, it’s hard. There is always so much going on. You get these moements of perfect clarity so infrequently that when they happen, you just have to grab them.
This is beautiful and just what I needed to read.
Hi Kate, Thank you for the kind words. Pleased that I was able to move you. Hope all is well.
Very nice S.J. Isn’t it amazing how the simplest things can bring so much joy?!?! Maybe I am getting “simple” with my age.!!
H
Love this post…it’s the little things like this that make life sweet.
thanks DF, we need the little times, they comfort in the bad times.
It’s good to know that there are people out there who experience such feelings with the one they love. Inspiring, to say the least. Such moments of mine I’ve found more regularly on WordPress; they are very special moments that should be remembered for quite some time.
I hope you find many, many more. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you C.A – I knew there was a softer spot to you….