Get busy living
By Melea Johnson
For Goodness Sake Travel & LeisureWhat if you wake up some day and you're way past 50, and you never went swimming in cool lakes all those years because your thighs were jiggly and your bathtub seemed just fine?
What if you were just too busy with work and perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to go places and do things and explore with your family creating forever memories?
We sometimes forget to capture that very moment called now. The moment when we realize we tend to busy our days with projects that have no apparent pause button and we lose our ability to have fun.
The reality is we don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.
It's time to play in the sun.
You don't have to go far to find it. A brisk walk outdoors is an excellent start to soak in those golden rays. And the jiggly thighs? Well, you may find they jiggle less plus you have a bit of calf muscle you never had before from the loops around the local park.
A purposefully planned day in the sunshine will bring a new perspective. The reward of dangling your feet in fresh lake water is a pleasure beyond definition. Floating on an air-mattress or launching a canoe for a gentle glide is a calming way to end a busy day. Or perhaps a vigorous swim to rejuvenate and clear the cobwebs.
Go camping. Light a campfire and everyone becomes a storyteller, out loud without facebook or television or camera. Just the glow of the fire and real conversation. Stories that send us back to a childhood of mud pies and playing in sprinklers, canals, and open fields.
While under the stars, listen carefully to the words of your children and your grandchildren and you will hear their hearts and hopes for goodness and wonder. For any child, life remains a sea full of curiosity and rich experiences just waiting.
Experiences served along with S’mores on the menu of lasting memories.