I scoop his wet little body out of the bathtub and he giggles as he glimpses his face in the mirror behind me. I look over my shoulder and feel a little shock of surprise as I see my own face next to his. Where did those lines come from on my forehead? Next to his sweet little baby face I look old. Well, not old exactly.......I look like my mom.
I'm not sure why it surprises me--except that in my mind I'm still a teenager. I have a slim figure, and my hair is thick and dark, not thin and salt and pepper. To tell you the truth I enjoy that mental image of myself better than the one that I see in the mirror.
I had an endless supply of energy, and no responsibility. Life was simple and carefree with no major complications other than what I was going to do that weekend. Sometimes I think it would be fun to go back to those days of simplicity.
But then I remember--it wasn't really simple back then either. I wasn't as comfortable as I am now. I stressed over little things, and I worried about what people thought of me. I didn't slip into prayer as easily as one thought to the next. I tried to be someone cool instead of who I really was.
My grandma used to tell me. "This is the best time of your life." At the time I thought she meant when I was young, but looking back now I think she meant now--the present. In other words enjoy where you are now. Don't live in the past and don't worry about the future. Live today in the most alive way possible, and appreciate the present.
Even if there are a few wrinkles and gray hairs.
I'm not sure why it surprises me--except that in my mind I'm still a teenager. I have a slim figure, and my hair is thick and dark, not thin and salt and pepper. To tell you the truth I enjoy that mental image of myself better than the one that I see in the mirror.
I had an endless supply of energy, and no responsibility. Life was simple and carefree with no major complications other than what I was going to do that weekend. Sometimes I think it would be fun to go back to those days of simplicity.
But then I remember--it wasn't really simple back then either. I wasn't as comfortable as I am now. I stressed over little things, and I worried about what people thought of me. I didn't slip into prayer as easily as one thought to the next. I tried to be someone cool instead of who I really was.
My grandma used to tell me. "This is the best time of your life." At the time I thought she meant when I was young, but looking back now I think she meant now--the present. In other words enjoy where you are now. Don't live in the past and don't worry about the future. Live today in the most alive way possible, and appreciate the present.
Even if there are a few wrinkles and gray hairs.
