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!
Oh dear … but perception really is reality.
1. Lucerne is a City with a current population of around 100,000. Small by US City standards, but still a city in Switzerland. Not sure about Switzerland, but in England population is not a factor to be a city. All it needs is a Cathedral!
2. I once approached a swan to get to my destination and he/she was blocking access. Presumably there was a nest nearby as that beautiful graceful creature turned into a vicious individual. Yours may well be “a beautiful image of peace” … but beware.
3. “C’est la vie” may well be your Latin phrase from memory …. but it is French, and they may get upset if you attribute such a phrase to the Romans! By the way, your “seize the day” is not from “C’est la vie” at all … but from Carpe Diem” which is indeed Latin.
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Oh dear may very well have been one of the phrases that came out of my mouth! I will be back to try to try to explain, once I think of an explanation! 🙂
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Yes, the famous line spoken in the movie Dead Poets society.😉 😁 Carpe Diem…what a wonderful phrase…oh and now the song from Lion King hakuna matata has popped in my head! 😂 I’m definitely entertaining myself now!🤣
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You are welcome for the free entertainment! 🙂
If I can give myself some bonus points I will say that I was thinking of The Dead Poets Society when I wrote Seize the Day! I had the right movie in mind!
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Haha 😁 at least we can laugh at ourselves. 😉❤️
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Well Colin I wish I had a better explanation but words have failed me, obviously words are good at failing me!
Anyway here is a quote that I think sums up my life pretty well and its in English, which is the language I should probably stick to. 🙂
“Blessed is the one who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be entertained!”
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🙂
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Oh and my sincere apologies to the CITY of Lucerne and to the French. 🙂
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Thank you, Colin. I’m sure glad I was on vacation when she posted this.
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You weren’t in the little village of Lucerne quoting French phrases in Latin were you?
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Nein. I was in London, quoting German phrases in Danish.
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Oooooh the words that are going around in my head right now!
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French Latin words perhaps?
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“Very funny!” not exactly! Thinking now of the words that my “dear” husband just said. Yes, he is getting fun out of this as well. He wanted to post a song on here but Dang, he just hasn’t had the time yet. So sad!
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“Ding Dang Dong” perhaps?
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Ha Ha!
Wrong!
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You 2 go ahead and have your fun now and get it all out of your system so that you then can forget my little mix up of words! Just wiped away from your memory. 🙂
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Okay. We’re going to capture the joy of the moment. And thanks for making it so easy.
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Usually when one says “Thanks” there is a polite thing to say back to them , but hmmm…just can’t think of that word right now, sorry, but you know the trouble I have with words! 🙂
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Yeh ………… Whatever!
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Wrong word!
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Whatever.
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C’est la vie!
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Yes that is what Brad just said! And he texted it to me too. Isn’t that “sweeeet”!
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He clearly knows his French from his Latin. You should listen to him often.
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Whatever!
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Oh gosh! I believe you should still be on vacation!
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Maybe I’ll go on another one.
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Carpe diem!
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Yes that phrase came to my mind about 3 minutes too late!! 🙂
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Yes…. it means “Sieze the day”, unlike “C’est la Vie” which loosely translates to “Such is life!” 🙂
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Oh yes ‘C ‘est la Vie” The only FRENCH phrase that I know! 🙂
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Cherish the Moments – they are what make up a life!
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Indeed! 🙂
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Love swans, and we saw many on the marina. Colin is right they can be agressive, especially with young nearby, but we had parents come to the boat and ‘show off’ their brood several times which made us feel priviliged.
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It appears that Colin was right about everything he pointed out. LOL!
How nice that they came to show off their brood to you guys! 🙂
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It was wonderful. Five cygnets out of seven that year.
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Yup . . . worry is interest paid on a debt you do not yet owe.
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I read somewhere “95% of what you worry might happen to you, will not happen. Insurance companies know this, which is why they generally make good profits every year!”
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I know another statistic too, that may actually be higher. Has to do with the percentage of times that I find myself in a hole, but I have managed to stay out of one today so far. 🙂
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Anyway a beautiful message you’ve shared. It’s too easy to get caught up in the day to day and forget to enjoy the moment.
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Thanks Jenna! Yes it’s something I do try to practice but there are those times where you need a reminder.
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We definitely all need to have this reminder at times
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we can’t worry about tomorrow, living today has enough challenges. i love your reflections and the peace you find afterwards. I think that holiday prepared you to face whatever came next. we need the calm before the storm maybe. What I know is that you have a lot of strength to face whatever comes.
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Thank you very much Gina! I do believe you are right about the calm before the storm. It’s not my own strength that gets me through that’s for sure! Strength from my faith, family and dear friends!
You have a lot of strength too my friend. You been through big storms as well.
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you have their strength because you are a source of it to them too, if that makes sense! it is god to have such a wonderful support system but it is good to know we have it in ourselves to see it through too.
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🙂 ❤
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“Remember to take good care of the minutes and the hours…the years will take care of themselves.” – Susan Branch, Heart of the Home. “Carpe Diem” indeed! Thank-you!
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Another great quote that puts time in perspective . And yes “Carpe Diem!” That wonderful Latin saying. 🙂
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Worry will take care of itself, now that I’m older I can truly say that. Glad you had wonderful time before the trials. I say joie de vie
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For JR’s benefit, “joie de vie” is not Latin! You (JR) now know two French sayings! 🙂
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Thanks!
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LOL! Oooh thank you Colin for pointing that out.
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I’d say ‘Joie de Vie!’
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Wonderfully encouraging.
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Glad it encouraged you Nico. 🙂
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“Seize the day” (Carpe Diem) is great advice, because we never know when a swan will behave like a goose, and seize a large hunk of our backside as we’re trying to run away from it.
I’m all for capturing the joy of the moment. As they say in Mexico, “When the weather’s well, it’s time to get oot and aboot, eh.” Wait, that’s Canada.
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“Och Ay the noo!” Pennsylvania right?
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You got me there. Maybe Pennsyltucky?
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….mmmm….!!!
Sometimes my face just says it all!
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Too bad we’re not on Facebook, so I could see it.
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Haha!
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Bradley!!!!!
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There’s nobody here by that name 😉
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Ha Ha!
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Ok smartie who has a song for just about anything! Do you have a Carpe Diem song too?
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I love Bob Seger. Best Italian rocker around.
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You know you could have just stopped after your first sentence. Or you could have left out that little word in between best and rocker. LOL!
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Totally agree with you. Everybody knows he was Irish.
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…..mmmmm…..!!!
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I guess he dances the Irish jig too!
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No idea …. but I figure you would know.
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Nope! Have no clue!
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Yes I realize that, but thought that you would have no reason to totally guess such an obscure fact.
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Oh gosh! I should know to stop when I am ahead but wait, when have I ever been ahead!?
I wouldn’t have thought of an obscure fact like that if you wouldn’t have said about him being Irish!
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Just got it! You’re confused (as usual) and are thinking of Bob Seagull!
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Oh dear! Yeah…cough,cough…you are so smart…cough,cough,cough! That’s exactly what I was thinking, Now sorry but I really need some water!
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First – it is crazy to imagine that we are flashing back to 2014! Feels like just yesterday –
And I love how you started with the swan and led us go to Europe with you and feel the peace and then adjust to what life brought your way…
abhhh
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You are so right about how at times it feels just like yesterday but then there are other times where it feels so long ago.
Glad you enjoyed the story, thanks for letting me know. 🙂
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You said that right – it also feels so long at times –
😉
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