Regardless of how much we may like or dislike our parents' raising styles, we have a tendency to follow their lead in life. Sure, we all go through a rebellion stage of doing everything and anything they tell us NOT to do. But, in the long run, we adopt some of their habits as our own.
For example, I am thankful to come from a family where education is always a top priority. Both of my parents and all 6 children have a minimum of a bachelor's degree. Many have graduate level education, or in my case, will begin grad school soon.
While the focus on education and career is great, I have noticed that I emit a strong vibe of being "very busy". It makes me think of both of my parents. Growing up, my mom was always in school: massage school, college, and then graduate school. She somehow managed to focus on her studies while raising 5 children. My dad earned his Ph.D when I was a baby, and just kept going. He was constantly working or out of town on business. Even now, my best way to contact him is on FaceBook because it spans across the globe. That is the only way I found out he was in Greece last week.
Then there's me. For those of you who don't know, I always have at least 3 projects/major tasks going. I'll let things pile up on my plate until I have to scream uncle and reset my priorities. I'm a planner, and I like to make goals. From 5 year goals to top priorities for the morning, I constantly re-evaluate and update what I want to accomplish. This is both a blessing and a curse.
The other day, AJ had his 5-year old son, Ronny, with us. Let me just say that Ronny has got to be one of the most exceptional, articulate, amazingly bright and sweet children of all time. Ronny has a few choice games that he likes to play with AJ and me. He favors light saber battles the most and will often offer me the first choice of the red, blue, or green light saber. I was preparing dinner, and Ronny came over to me in the kitchen and put the green light saber on my belt loop (so I would have it for our post-dinner battle). I caught myself just before I commented, "Not now, Ronny." I thought, if not now, when? This kid is 5, which means he'll be 15 in what will feel like a week. By then, he won't want to play light sabers with his elders.
I'm 32 and while I do love to sieze many of life's precious moments, I have held off on certain choices due to timing and opportunity. When faced with major life decisions, I often think, "How do I want to remember this moment on my death bed?". Did I live, or did I wait? Wait for what? It is important not to rush through life, but sometimes you have to take that leap and live for you. Don't worry about what your parents will say or what your friends will think. What do you want? Now think, "What am I waiting for?"
Before I get to thick with this, I would like to add that after dinner, Ronny, AJ, and I had an incredible light saber battle. There is always something else that you need to do; some chore that needs to be done. I know I won't remember cleaning the kitchen as one of my fondest moments in life. Staging a 2-person sneak attack on AJ with light sabers and small orange cones used as dynamic lasers, on the other hand, now that's a memory.
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