Appreciate That Moment

We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life from time to time and sometimes we need reminding of the cliche stuff. It often takes something to be nearing the end for us to really appreciate it. I have found myself recently listening to the cliche notion above and acknowledging the truth in it. 

I am in my final month of university, one of the biggest and most important chapters of my life which will stay with me forever and I am experiencing a new attitude. Initially I freaked out and panicked (cried a lot) at the thought of it all coming to the end, but then I told myself to get a grip and just appreciate what the time left has to offer. It's all about that positive mental attitude and I'm loving life in this current mindset. 

Yesterday I sat eating my breakfast and appreciated it. I walked to my final lectures in the cold lecture hall and loved it. I got too drunk on a Monday night, woke the next day with a stonking headache and laughed it off, continuing with my day. I sat at my desk lacking motivation to write my essay and then stared out of my window at the inner city view of a brick wall and cherished it. (I am exaggerating a touch here, but you get the gist!) I'm even appreciating the times I freak out about my future career, the countless (somewhat endless) job searches, the lack of a male companion - the lot.

So, I'm saying to you no matter what stage of life you are currently at, appreciate it because usually we only do when things are coming to an end and that's often too late. When you're living at home and your Mum is quizzing you about everything, enjoy it, you'll miss those nags when you're older. When you get sad that your children are starting school, appreciate that they're still young, will return at 3pm and that they have a school to go to. When you get up in the early hours to commute to the job you've been in for twenty years, be happy because one day you'll leave and miss the people and the memories (a little). When you drive your sister to Tesco ten minutes down the road for comfort food with cheesy music blaring, just remember that life will change so don't take those moments for granted. When your Gran visits and befriends everyone on the high street that day to your total embarrassment, smile as she won't be around forever. When you see friends for an hour and wish you had longer, appreciate the fun hour that you had. When you're having the most mundane day ever, be happy to be living.

I think it's hit me so strikingly now because I've reached a stage where I'm not just reading or hearing the cliche sayings, but I'm coming to realise how true they are. And they really are. I want to be like my Grandad who sat in his armchair at 89 years old telling me with a big white grin on his face how great his life has been, and I think about those conversations if ever I'm feeling stressed or worried about something. I think about how much he appreciated everything and then smile at all I have to love. The best thing you can do sometimes is to step back and for that moment just think about your lot, how quickly time passes and how you have so much to smile and appreciate before it's too late. Life is short, live it!