The Time Is Now by Beth Williamson
You know how we go through life waiting for the next day, or Friday, or next month? We wish time away as if it were a renewable resource instead of treating it as a precious commodity.
I’m here to tell y’all, it’s precious, beyond the value of any precious gems or minerals. Treat it well, savor it, celebrate it.
What brought about this blog post? Well, a friend of mine and her dad. He’s had cancer for seven years and he just took a terrible turn for the worse. As I write this post, she’s at the hospice care ward and he’s breathing his last breaths in the company of his family. This friend had lived in Germany for five years until about a year and a half ago when she moved back to North Carolina. If she hadn’t, then all the time she’s spent with her dad over those 18 months would’ve never happened.
She seized the day, kept those incredibly important hours with him. It made me think about my dad (he’s 65) and how much I’d miss him if the same thing happened. Gads, it makes my throat close up to even think about it.
Life is so short, it’s a blink in the eye of the universe. Let’s take a moment to truly realize just how much we have and be thankful for every second and make it Celebrate Life day. I’m sending you all cyber hugs and saying “Hey there, it’s wonderful to see you!!”
Here’s my challenge for y’all. Tell me one thing about your life that you love/celebrate/are thankful for. Everyone who comments gets entered to win a download of choice from my backlist.
I’ll start. I’m thankful to have my family, my friends and to wake up each morning able to write stories that I love. I also love the fact that I can blog and touch people around the world (well, not really touch, that’d be weird). So what about you? Lay it on me, y’all, and let’s celebrate life!
March 21st, 2008 at 10:49 am
I am thankful that after two months of struggling to find a job, a marketing research firm is willing to take a chance on me
March 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am
I’m thankful for good friends, a wonderful critique partner, and the chat challenges at Romance Divas. I’m grateful for the ability to rest today while I’m home sick. And, I’m happy that I can look out my window and see a beautiful day outside.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am
I’m always thankful to be alive.
I came close to shuffling off this mortal coil several years ago, by my own hand. Ever since I’ve realized how precious each moment we have is.
Sending strength to your friend.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am
Hi Beth,
As a widow and mother of 5 and grandmother of 13,
I am very thankful for the time to enjoy them and watch them grow.
As an addicted reader, I am very thankful for authors like you.
I am also very thankful for recently finding chat rooms like Samhain’s (where I saw your post about this blog). They keep me BUSY.
LOL, just a bit.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:26 am
I’m thankful for family, good health, good fortune and good friends—-and this is what I want for everyone that I love.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Hi Beth and
Such a great post - we do get so caught up in the rush of life and don’t sit back and savor the here and now.
I’m thankful for my husband and children, for the roof over our heads and the brand new yard outside (yay - grass!). I’m also thankful that I can do something I love every day (writing) and be kinda successful at it too!
Hey Sandie my mom is a Sandie with an “ie” too so when I see your name pop up on the Cafe I always think of my mama! Which is a good thing. LOL
March 21st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Beth, this is a wonderful post! So often we look at life and think…is it only Tuesday? When will it be Saturday. Or wishing months would go by. But to some people, and should be to us all, each day IS a gift. We never know when ‘today’ could be our last.
((HUGS!))
March 21st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I am thankful for my son. Without him I probably wouldn’t be here, and he unknowingly makes my bad days better all the time.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I wake up each day thankful that I haven’t yet chewed through the straps of my wonderful jacket. This gives my carers time to give me the delicious M&M’s that allow me to drift in peaceful visions of yellow and green skies, and to listen to the pretty hawking of the buzzards in the exercise yard.
Man, if it wasn’t for the muzzle, I’d squish those delicate poison ivy leaves against my face and breathe deep of the bittersweet smell of spring vegetation.
Isn’t life good?
S.J.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:52 pm
What a wonderful post to make all of us who celebrate Easter/Passover, stop and think. I am grateful for my family as well. I am staying home this year, trying to keep my dad alive (almost lost his leg at Christmas) and I can’t say I regret it. My goal is for him to become more self-sufficent so when I return to teaching in the fall, he’ll keep up with his meds and exercise. I made it a vow to live every moment…because you never know if it will be your last.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Der, I never said what I was thankful for. I’m thankful for my family, friends, and my fabulous daughter!!
March 21st, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I’m thankful for my family and my good health. I’m also thankful that we’re having great weather right now and that I can go out for a walk and enjoy this Spring morning.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Hey y’all - your comments are so inspiring (even you, S.J., you funny boy). My heart feels so full reading everything you’re thankful for.
*high fives to everyone*
It’s a beautiful day! Keep celebrating with me!
March 21st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I’m thankful for my wonderful husband, my children, and my soon-to-be 10 grandchildren! I give thanks
for my extended family and friends and for the
support which allows me to be me.
Pat Cochran
March 21st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I too am so thankful for the good health of all my family, for my beautiful sons’ that I am so, so proud of, and with one of my boys now in the service, I am thankful that he has stayed safe.
March 21st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I celebrate life & family every day. I’ve made it through two armed conflicts and am thankful to be alive and kicking.
March 21st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I am thankful for my wonderful hubby, our two precious kids, my twin sister, my mom, my brother and my close friends. I feel so rich in the truly important ways when I think of them.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Pat, Dave, Cathy and Cherie ~ thanks for posting. Celebrate away!
March 21st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Your friend is very lucky Beth. My Mom found out she had cancer at the beginning of December and by the 28th we lost her. Totally unexpectedly.
Life is truly precious so please don’t waste it. Take precautions but don’t be afraid to have fun and live it.
March 21st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I’m thankful that the family is in good health. No problems except for the occasional cold. I’m also thankful that spring is here and weather will only get warmer and nicer.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Stephanie ~ (((hugs))) I’m so sorry about your Mom. Sending good karma your way
Jane ~ Lovely things to be thankful for!
We’re on a roll - woo!!
March 21st, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I’m thankful that my husband of 28 years left me. Weird, huh? I nearly ended my life soon after he moved out - I didn’t know how to live without him and didn’t want to.
A few months short of two years later, I’m still in my home, working out divorce terms slowly, but what I’m really thankful for are my friends and family. My kids are so great, and I have wonderful relationships with them both. My friends have been with me through good times and bad, and not many can say they are loved unconditionally by so many as I can.
I’m thankful to be finding a direction to my life. I’m doing copy editing and beginning as an assistant marketing director for an epub - my love of reading led me to these things.
I feel younger than I did when my husband left - more like the 22 year old I was when we married.
I have enough money that I can do a little traveling - not often, but when I do, it’s good for my soul. Puerto Rico calls to me - no, make that SINGS to me!
I saw Bon Jovi with a friend last week - don’t own any of their cds, just went on a whim. A song they played is becoming a little anthem to me. “It’s my life. It’s now or never. I ain’t gonna live forever. I just wanna live while I’m alive. It’s my life.” (I think I got that right.)
March 21st, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Amy ~ You are an amazingly strong woman. I’m proud of all you’ve done. Keep on celebrating you! P.S. Love Bon Jovi. :)
March 21st, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Well, it’s 9:15 here in NC so I’m going to call it a day - now I’m going to randomly pick a poster to win a download.
And the winner is… post #12, Jodi S.
Jodi, please e-mail me at cowgirlbeth@gmail.com with your choice of books and format.
Thanks to my naughty and spice peeps for the invite to guest blog. And a mighty thanks to all you readers for coming by to help me celebrate today.
Have a wonderful, peaceful weekend. I wish you all the best.
March 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 am
Thanks Beth! I’ll be emailing you shortly!
April 24th, 2008 at 5:10 am
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