We recently visited Arches National Park in Utah and the landscape was spectacular. Home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, this park is a must-see and contains the highest density of natural arches in the world! While visiting the park, I started to notice a pattern. The arches over time had changed due to harsh weather, erosion, and other natural elements. Some of the arches have openings twice the size they did years ago due to rockfall or even worse are at danger to collapse all together from this act.
This got me thinking that the sights we were seeing will not be the same if we return to see it again. Nature is changing every day and so is life. The sun rises and the sun sets different than the day before. People change and age as well as nature and the world around us. Change can be exciting, unpredictable, and scary all at the same time.
The one thing that is for sure is change is inevitable. We can’t stop it. Tomorrow is a new day and we will never be where we were yesterday. Each morning we are another day older and blessed with a new opportunity to seize the day.
Sometimes this feeling makes me a little sad. The feeling that another day is completed and never again to be relived is an overwhelming emotion for me. Our daughter is growing every day and this is a good thing and what we want to happen, but at the same time our baby has turned into a toddler, and our toddler is turning into a sweet little girl. Time is going so fast, I just want to hit the pause button on life.
When these sad thoughts start to creep in, I try and use it for motivation. Where you are in life at this exact moment is special. Life will never be at this exact timing ever again. I don’t want to dwell on the past or worry about the future. I want to take it all in and enjoy these special moments while they last. Life is a gift. Use the days ahead to live in the moment and truly appreciate life. The age you are. The age of your kids, parents, siblings, will never be at this exact moment again so enjoy it! If you are waiting on something to happen to make you happy, you will always be waiting. Don’t wait for happiness. Decide to be happy now and take that leap that is holding you back from allowing this to happen.
Even though the arches are always evolving, they are still beautiful at every stage of the transition. Glacier National Park is another park that is significantly changing and runs the risk of being “gone” in our lifetime. The glaciers over time have significantly shrunk and unfortunately we are quickly loosing one of the most important aspects of it’s natural beauty. This is heartbreaking to hear, but what is true in nature is true in our own lives. There is so much beauty around us and it is there for the taking. This motivates me to appreciate where we are at in life and get out and explore. That does not mean life is perfect, it means life is important.
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
-Heraclitus
This quote perfectly sums up the story of man and nature. The world around is changing. We as people are always changing. Change is intimidating, but also can be positive. Embrace the good in change. Even though you and the river will never be the same, enjoy the moment just like it is. Take a minute and feel the sun on your face and the water rushing beneath your feet. The next time you step in that river you will not be the same. You will be even better for it!
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