A Reminder to Appreciate Our Moments

Doreen GumaToday I was on the telephone with a business associate and mentioned that I just got back from a big trip in celebration of my husband and my 30th anniversary.

The lovely woman I was speaking with mentioned that she and her husband only made it 26 years, and then went on to explain that they were together for 33 years and married for 26 years when he passed away last year.

Yes…  Bam.

On a daily basis, I absolutely do my best to remember to take time to appreciate the good in my life.

I have learned that gratitude is a learned behavior and a skill I didn’t know I should practice until I started my own journey of life enjoyment a few years ago.

Hokey?  Don’t believe me?  Google how gratitude improves your life – no matter your circumstance or life experience, it is show that you can find something to be grateful for (or — to make it easier, click to read “How Gratitude Leads to a Happier Life” published in Psychology Today).

Even though priorities and busy-ness get in the way, I personally appreciate the people in my life, the life I live, and, of course, my husband Jim who puts up with me and all my “crazy” ideas and pursuit to help people love their life.

Speaking with this wonderful woman made it even more evident why, even though we “couldn’t” take the time to go on our trip, we did make the time. . . because it is the most important thing to make the time, to create the memories, and to live without regretting that “you could have” or “should have”.

But, speaking to a person like this lovely woman today, a person who you could hear the love in her voice and the appreciation she had for the years with her husband, puts a real emphasis on the importance to stop and think — just a little more — about those who are in your life that you might take for granted will always be there.

I realize we all will pass away one day.  And, as crazy as it may seem, especially because you are an important part of people’s lives, and because people depend on you every day, it is difficult to consider that, one day — you — we — all of us — will just disappear from existing in this world. Of course, we will not disappear from the hearts of our loved ones, but from being in this present.

Yes, people will miss us, but they will move along and things will keep on keeping on.

Today, right now, take a moment and appreciate all who are in your present.

This moment… this moment right now, is the most important moment there is.

Savor it, and try to remember to savor as many moments and appreciate as many people who are part of your life as you can.

In the end, things don’t matter, but the people you love and who love you… well, they are the ones that need you and your attention the most.

Take a moment right now to just take a breath and to love your life and to love those in it.

It is, indeed, time to enjoy your life.

I believe that it is TIME to Play <3

Love,

Doreen Guma

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Doreen Guma, MA, FACHE, CPC, CLC:  Doreen holds a Bachelor of Science in Management, a Masters in Business and Policy Studies, is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Certified Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach, Certified Professional Coach, Certified Life Coach, and the author of the book, If I Knew Then What I Know Now, Our Quest for Quality of Life.

Doreen is the founder of the Time to Play Foundation, a 501c3 not for profit organization with the mission and purpose to enrich the lives of others through programs, public awareness outreach activities, events and learning opportunities that further the concept of enjoying life.  The Foundation’s website, www.TimetoPlayFoundation.org, has resources, events and articles for a person to learn what they need to know for a better life.  Contact Doreen at 631-331-2675 or email: doreen@timetoplay.com

The Foundation offers an unconventional approach in a non-threatening manner to provide solutions for the life situations that people may encounter.  Working in healthcare since 1987, and with her background in quality improvement, she has followed statistics showing our society’s current evolution to be more “sick and sad”.   She developed the Time to Play Philosophy:  you have to be happy, healthy, have money and a work / life balance for quality of life and believes everyone has the ability to enjoy life.

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