Yesterday, 2 billion people around the world stopped. They laid down their work, their concerns their fears. They forgot about that payrise, that business venture, that bitchy thing so-and-so said after too many tequilas. They paused for their family, their loved ones, for themselves. Because in the darkest hours of the year, these things matter most.
Now as the monotonous routine of life resumes, all our fears and frustrations will return. Our eyes so fixed upon the future will neglect what we have around us. But we can pause in our daily quest to pay the bills and ensure our children get to the best school, we can sit down besides them and be the parents they need right now. We can pause in trying to do every little thing for our aging parents and sit down instead to share a glass of wine, listening, conversing, laughing.
When was I last present? When did I put down my phone to listen to my father? Do I make time for childish things, drawing for no one but myself? Do I make time to giggle with gran over a sherry? Am I buried in work or am I living?
It’s 364 days until we pause again for Christmas. 364 days to be lived, 1440 minutes each day to be taken for granted — or cherished.
Now I’m off to have a coffee with someone.
