I Love That for You

 

A friend of mine and I were having lunch the other day and somehow we got on the subject of jealousy verses being truly happy for someone else's fortune. Coming back from a recent trip to East Texas/Louisiana for Paxton's big 16th birthday trip where we hauled the boat so he could fish at Caddo Lake I had some inquires after my FB post. " Oh wow you have been traveling a lot lately, or seems like you are really enjoying life." Sometimes it is hard to tell if someone is being genuine or a little caddy. We had these plans for almost a year. In recent years I think we started traveling more with "life is short enjoy it, " attitude.  Do the things, take the trips, make the memories. My philosophy from waiting to retire to do all the things to enjoying them now is my motto. How do you know you will be able to enjoy it later? We are not promised tomorrow. I told her I do tend to get a lot of wow you have been traveling a lot commentary from others, but I just silence the noise and say exactly how I am happy that I have chosen to live my life now instead of waiting until xyz happens. Maybe it won't happen. I am not strongly suggesting that anyone lives outside their means, but that they take advantage of their opportunities, make the time, prioritize their schedules and live in the moment.

My friend said she agreed, that we should all just be rooting for each other and should say I Love that for you genuinely, not with jealously. We may want that same thing for ourselves that we may have not gotten around to fulfilling yet and maybe it is meant to be at a different time, or maybe we have just been putting it off or prioritizing differently. But to truly be happy for someone else's bucket list item or whatever it may be shows our maturity and our sincerity for other people's happiness.  I told her that earlier that day a business friend of mine posted her and her daughter galloping on the beach with the beautiful ocean in the background on graceful horses with a freedom that put an automatic smile on my face. Owning horses off and on since I was 12 years old it was something I have always wanted to do. Have I done it yet? NO. Could I have, probably. How grandeur of an opportunity and now it makes it a higher priority for me in upcoming trips where it may be an option. My immediate thought when she posted the video was to be truly happy for her! Something she has always wanted to do with her daughter. It never crossed my mind to be jealous! I even posted in the comments, "this is so awesome for you." Later that day my other friend and I had this same conversation about being truly happy for other people! 

This weekend I had the opportunity to see my son who is a junior get dressed up (in his own style) and accompany girls to the homecoming dance for the first time in his high school careeer with two of his best girl friends since kindergarten and two more he acquired along the way. I truly felt the hit about a month ago when I took him to get his license, now his first dance... the emotions have been flying. Steve is supposed to be here for these things. These milestones that will keep on coming the older Paxton gets in his life. The sadder I feel for what we lack but the joy of enjoying the moment, living our lives, making the most of still being here without Steve shows we are truly enjoying the journey and surrendering the outcome we likely don't have control over. I know Steve is up there smiling down if that is such a thing. Proud of his son and of where he is going. I had a a little anxiety and a touch of sadness to the point of crying privately. A combination of bittersweet, joy and sadness all wrapped up in a messy little package. We never know when our experiences will come to an end. Enjoy all of them, find the joy in them, make the most of them, express the gratitude for them daily. 

So yes, the next time you see someone winning, getting ahead, enjoying life, loving their experiences, doing all the things! Truly be happy for them. Love that they get to have that experience, that moment... you never know how long they will be here, or the people around them that they want to enjoy it with. Practice saying I Love That for You, MORE! 

From song: We Live by Superchick

We live, we love, we forgive and never give up ' cause the days we are given are gifts from above and today we remember to live and to love. What would it take for the clouds to break, for us to realize each day is a gift somehow, someway and get our heads up out of the darkness and spark this new mindset and start on with life cause it ain't gone yet. This is your story and and it all depends so don't let it become true get out and do what we are meant to do. And tragedy's a reminder to take off the blinders and wake up with all our heads up 'cause life is worth living.