those moments

“What day is it?"
It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh.”
― A.A. Milne

the VOICE is one of my favorite shows.  i like it because i'm in awe of the talent AND i dont have to sit through any embarassing tryouts like on american idol.  i have zippy skippy desire to watch ANYONE embarass themselves - which i know makes me in the very small minority, but i just dont get why anyone takes pleasure in that stuff.  but i also cant watch any reality shows.  no honey boo boo, or real housewives.  no ice road truckers or deadliest catch. no bachelor or big brother.  i find it all completely ridiculous.  and probably my least favorite show of ALL TIME is storage wars.  probably because every time i walk into my family room its on.....well that or american chopper.  i have enough of my own drama, i dont need to watch anyone elses.  i want my entertainment to be completely fictional.  and while i apparently am venting about it, i sincerely dont understand america's fascination with watching other people make jackasses out of themselves.  you want to watch drunk idiots, go to your local bar.  you want to watch bitchy women, go to bunco. you want to watch guys try to one up each other, go to any weekend sporting event.  but i digress.

i'm watching the voice with my kids, which is one of our few rituals, and while we are discussing who we like and why, jake looks at me and says - how many more people do you think will vote for this tonight than say for their own governor?  and while i'm glad he gets that, its just a super sad truth about the society we live in.  i wonder if they let you vote in the next election by text or on itunes if we would have more voter turnout! might be worth a shot. 

so anyway, we were observing that our favorites from last week didnt do nearly as well this week, song choices, etc when one of the judges made the comment that everyone was talented, so it all boiled down to who made the most of their MOMENT.  who took the opportunity to shine.  and its ironic that from week to week, those people are different. you would think that those with the most talent would consistently show it.....but often its the person who you arent really sure about that steps up and bowls you over.  and i absolutely love that.  again, i know i'm in the minority but THAT is what makes me want to watch a reality show.  people bringing their BEST to the table.  INSPIRE me...rise to the occasion....take your moment and OWN it!!

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”  ― Eleanor Roosevelt

sometimes the moments that mean the most are the ordinary ones.  sitting in the kitchen making dinner and doing homework.  watching tv or playing with the pups.  but sometimes there are BIG moments....weddings and births.  graduations and promotions. championships and awards.  opportunities to really shine.  it doesnt have to be on a grand scale.  just those moments when you get to snap a picture in your mind and think "i will NEVER forget this moment".  i hope if i've learned anything this year, its to be aware of those moments.  i hope i've passed on to the boys how to make the most of theirs, and to appreciate whatever comes their way.  you never know when YOUR moment is going to come along, but you have to be ready for it when it does.  you have to face each day as the opportunity for it.  be open to all you have to offer and be ready to lay it on the line when you need to.  make the most of your moments, whether big or small.  because really the sum of your life when you look back on it will be those moments.....and you want to make sure when you pull them back out and look, you are proud because you know you made the most of them.

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”  ― Henry David Thoreau