Capturing the Joy of the Moment

I was taking a trip back in time yesterday as I was staring at this picture. This was taken back in 2014. Aren’t swans such a beautiful image of peace.  Our family was sitting outside in front of this lovely lake on a beautiful Spring day. We were watching the swan and eating delicious, melt in your mouth Swiss Truffles!

We were enjoying the beauty of Switzerland! Our family was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on a trip to Europe. We visited the village of Lucerne  in Switzerland, Paris and Venice, Italy. It was a wonderful time of learning about so many different things and seeing so many beautiful sights!

What stood out to me yesterday is how back in the Spring of 2014 while staring out over a peaceful lake, my heart was at peace. Life was good! Little did I know that within a year’s time, our family would be going through a very hard time as our lives would be turned upside down for a couple of years.

While going through those very tough years there were times where I longed to be back by the lake in Switzerland. Or back to walking through amazing Venice and riding on a gondola. I wanted to be in the courtyard of the Louvre again, feeling the warmth of the sunshine and enjoying the beauty of the big fountain. The feeling of being in awe that I really was there.

It struck me how if I had known about the trials my family was going to face in the coming years, I wouldn’t have felt at peace like I did when we were in Europe. In spite of being a very curious person, I realize that there are times when I don’t want to know what may lie ahead of me. It would be too overwhelming to know about something bad that was coming that I couldn’t stop. It would only create more worry and worry is something that no one needs. It never helps anything! All it does is rob the present moment of its joy. Moments of time that you can’t get back again. How sad it would have been if I would have wasted my time in Europe by worrying about the trials that were coming to my family!

I was reminded yesterday about savoring the moments as I was listening to relaxing music in my living room, reflecting on life. I may not know what lies ahead but believe me I can still let my mind wander and get me all worried about something that may or may not happen. When we let ourselves get caught up in fear and worry about the future there are so many blessings that we may miss out on seeing.

We can miss out on seeing the the beauty of the blue sky or the bright colors of a butterfly if we are focused on our worries and looking at the ground.

Its something that has been said often, but at times we just need to reminded again. Reminded to seize the day!  “C’est la vie!” A wonderful phrase and the extent of the Latin that I know!

Look for the good in each day, even when it may seem hard to find. Look for something to make you smile. It may be something as simple as a picture hanging on your wall reminding you of happy times. Let those memories warm your heart and give you the strength to go on, facing whatever may come your way.

Life is a journey of twists, turns and ups and downs. A journey that gives us smiles and tears, but a journey that is uniquely ours. A journey that will teach us things if our hearts and eyes are open to them. Lessons that we can learn in the sunshine and some that we have to learn in the rain. Embrace them all, for when added together they all make up this amazing adventure called Life!