Set Goals! Make Plans! But Enjoy the Moment!

From the book, Open Road : A Midlife Memoir of Travel Through the National Parks by TW Neal

“I’ve worked on myself to let go of expectations and enter into now. Expectations are the number one reason for unhappiness. Contentment is a choice, and joy comes from gratitude. I was thankful to be here, to have this experience, and to understand these things. Returning to them brought peace.”

I copied that quote on the 4th of December. Today is the 11th and I had every intention of getting back to this post and finishing it before today but I’ve kind of been in one of those Seasonal Affect Disorder funks that the colder, darker weather can put me in. In order to keep it somewhat at bay I’ve done little things to at least feel like I’m getting things done and I’ve read a lot. 

I’ve also tried to make myself take Charlie and get out more even if it’s just a brief errand to check off the “list that’s never finished”. There is a recently planted grove of trees at Dorris Ranch in Springfield that I went to see. Local runner Ben Blankenship started the project and had a tree planted for every American male who has run under 4:00 in the mile and every American female who has run under 4:30. Each tree is tagged with the runner’s name and time as well as the date and place where it happened. 

Walking around and looking at the names brought back so many memories because all of these performances took place during my lifetime and most after I became a runner myself in 1962. I contacted Ben on Instagram and thanked him for his work and shared with him how it truly felt like a spiritual experience walking among the grove. 

I actually met Ben when he won this year’s Butte to Butte 10K and set a new course record. 

Some of those “in the now” moments I’ve been enjoying by being in those moments have involved meals. 😂 It’s enjoyable going to eat not just for the food but for socializing as well. Although the food is usually a plus. 😊. Our local restaurant TJs is finally keeping some quality help and both the service and the food continues to improve. 

There are usually a lot of laughs and comments about the pictures of food and drink when I post and eventually publish my posts but I can look at almost every one of them and memories come flooding back. 

I recently had breakfast with Smitty and Mom Smith and we had a great time catching up and revisiting prior times that we got together and yes food was almost always involved and triggered many of the memories. I didn’t get pictures that day and was disappointed on the way home when I realized it. Smitty’s mom is over 90 and my health situation has been talked about more than enough. But Little did I know that it was going to be Smitty who made me regret not getting those pictures. On the 8th he had a heart attack. Thank God he was able to call 911 and they got him to the hospital in time. They put a stent in and he only had to spend one night in the hospital. 

That’s a perfect example of why I say be in the moment and make memories. Of the three of us at that meal at the Vintage Inn he was the least likely to come close to not making it to our next shared meal. 

Enjoy your friends and family and if it feels right then take pictures of that food to trigger happy memories as you go through your pictures. 

I’m still trying to do “races” whenever I feel up to it and still pretty much having to wait until race day to decide if I feel good enough to do it. Brandy had signed up for this one, we try to do it every year, so I put it on my “schedule” and if nothing else was going to go to pick up Brandy’s packet because her work travel got in the way. I wound up signing up when I got there so I can add another to my list. My time was right where I have consistently been and was actually 13 seconds faster than last year. 🤷‍♂️

Charlie was thrilled to wear the headband I picked up for him. 😂