Yesterday’s challenge was to be present, and work was kind enough to keep me busy. I took a few short breaks to refocus, then spent the evening working on plans for my new home office, occasionally checking election results, and catching up on a favorite television show. The best part was dinner with my wife, enjoying a meal she prepared and talking about our day. I even put my phone down. Mostly. I’m also trying to carry the earlier challenges forward, noticing the little things, complaining less, and taking a few moments when I wake up and before I go to bed to reflect on what I’m grateful for. The idea is to build on each day’s challenge throughout the month.
Today’s challenge is about cherished memories. We don’t always recognize how special a moment is while we’re living it. Sometimes it takes a little distance, a photograph, or a story told years later to appreciate what we had. Think about the memories that make you smile, laugh, or maybe bring a tear to your eye. Better yet, share them with the people who helped create them.
One of my favorites is a milestone birthday for my wife. She wanted a birthday party in Paris. That seemed reasonable enough, so I decided to make it happen. We rented a flat in our favorite neighborhood and brought our children, our future daughter-in-law, my mother-in-law, and my sister-in-law. With the help of a party planner, I arranged a dinner cruise on the Seine. What could possibly go wrong? Well, Paris flooded. So much for the cruise. Fortunately, our planner found a wonderful private room at a hotel, complete with a bar and garden. We celebrated, laughed, and enjoyed being together. It wasn’t quite the party I planned, but it became one of my favorite memories.
Tonight, take a few minutes to think about the memories you treasure most. Maybe write one down in your journal or share it with someone who was there. What made that moment so special? And while you’re at it, remember that the ordinary moments you’re experiencing today might become the cherished memories you look back on tomorrow.
