In the past, I had so many things to look forward to in the future. When I start reminiscing I go way back to graduating from high school, getting engaged, getting married, buying our first house, and having our children. I loved seeing those children excel in their endeavors and eventually graduating from high school, then college. Continue reading
When did I stop looking forward to the future?
I think back to my past…I loved celebrating my birthday. We always had family around to sing “Happy Birthday”, lots of presents, and my favorite angel food cake with Grandma’s slippery frosting.
Our family went on yearly epic summer camping trips. My favorite place to visit was Jellystone Park up in Sturgeon Bay, WI. The days were filled with swimming, bike riding, eating onion sandwiches in the afternoon, and singing around the campfire in the evening. Continue reading
I am going through a rather precarious time in my life. I am having a difficult time identifying anything that I am excited about or looking forward to. I am finding small joys in the little happenings of life. Continue reading
When I was younger, I eagerly anticipated my birthday each year. Month by month, I impatiently waited for the day of celebration, believing it would never arrive.
That was then. This is now.
Now, I still anticipate my special day each year, where everyone should celebrate me, but it seems to come much faster than it used to.
When I was younger, I looked forward to camping with our family—being outdoors, cooking on the campfire, singing songs, swimming in the lake, and having no responsibilities.
That was then. This is now.
Camping with the family is still enjoyable, but it involves so much work. The preparation almost diminishes the fun of the adventure. Nowadays, I anticipate spending time with family at our cabins in Door County – being together, playing games, and sharing stories. I also hope to embark on larger adventures with my kids. Perhaps a Disney cruise or a trip to Greece. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
When I was younger, I anticipated spending time with my Grandma Is. I used to visit her house after school until Mom finished work. I also spent my summer days at her house – playing outside, engaging in games like Zilch and Yahtzee, having lunch, and coloring pictures.
That was then. This is now.
Now that my kids are grown, I look forward to watching their families grow. I hope to become a grandma and spend time with my own grandkids. I anticipate having them over for weekends, playing games, teaching them how to cook or sew, and being a part of their lives.
Some of these things are a few years in the future yet, so for now, I’ll simply look forward to my morning cup of coffee and working in my organized office.
Click here to check out other Sidetracked opinions
Click here to listen to the Sidetracked Legacies podcast
Want to create your own legacy? Join the Sidetracked Sisters and start now!
Ever thought about working with a Life Coach? Are you creative or a writer who is frustrated with your inability to do the work you so desperately feel called to do? Check out Lisa Hoffman Coaching.
#sidetrackedsisters #sidetrackedchelle #sidetrackedlegacies #legacywriting #legacystories #writeyourownlegacy #LisaHoffmanCoaching #ThatWasThen #ThisIsNow #LookingForward #Future #Birthdays #TimeWithGrandma #TimeWithGrandKids
There isn’t much that can rouse me in the morning. Not my Alexa blaring music at full volume, nor my Sonic Bomb alarm clock with its bed shaker attachment under my pillow, nor my Pavlok electrocution watch that zaps me. Suffice it to say, I’m NOT a morning person. Continue reading
Getting up in the morning is probably one of the least favorite things I have to do in a day. It does beat the alternative but still is so hard for me to do. I loved working, but having to get up early in the day was what I hated the most. Once at work, it was fine, but oh that desire to sleep in was so tempting. Today I am forced to get up earlier than I would like to, but having two dogs 1. Want to do their morning routine which includes emptying their bladders and 2. Eating. They are ruthless in expressing their needs to the point that getting up is easier than hearing their constant warning that they want me up. Continue reading
I’ve trained myself to be a morning person. But I am naturally a night owl. I was born to a night owl and raised to be a night-loving person. My mom loves to watch t.v. until the wee hours of the morning.
When I was a child, a favorite memory is laying on the sofa with my mom, nestled behind her legs, head on her butt watching “Love American Style” on Friday nights and “Soap” on Saturdays. I’ve read until the birds began singing more than once a few times in my life. I’ve worked hard to make myself get up in the morning–to be a morning lark. It is pretty simple. You just have to go to bed earlier. That sounds easy. But really, it is HARD. But here are three steps that I use to get myself to bed at a reasonable time… Continue reading
As of this writing, there is only one thing that gets me up in the morning and that is my alarm clock.
What keeps me up at night is my greatest challenge right now. My bed is comfortable, my room is cool and inviting, and I love having my dog on the bed with me. So what’s the problem you might ask? Continue reading
As a child, I experienced the typical fears: fear of the dark, fear of talking to people, and fear induced by watching scary movies. These fears would often provoke anxiety and lead me to do irrational things, such as running through dark areas of the house to stay in well-lit areas or hiding under Grandma Is’s skirt if someone tried to talk to me. While my current fears don’t paralyze me or cause anxiety, they are thoughts that trouble me.
Continue reading
Being afraid is a total-body experience for me. I sometimes feel like the mother duck who always wants to know that all of her ducklings are ok and safe. This feeling dates back to my first memory of being frightened. I was five years old. Dad was a salesman for a meat packing company. He would be on the road all day long and made it a point to always be home at night. Continue reading
