Richmond Hill, ONApril 2010
[Please click here to share your Thematic blue]
I've been trying to learn how to stop time. Despite my stunning lack of success to-date, I'm slowly realizing that this may not be the point after all. We may, now and forever, lack the technology to stop time in its tracks, but there's nothing stopping us from learning how to squeeze a little more out of its passage.
In other words, the vehicle may always move at the same speed. But with the right attitude, we can teach ourselves to enjoy the trip a lot more.
In that light, I present this moment with our daughter. She's growing fast, so she won't always want to swing on the swing. But on this spring day, she did. So I positioned myself as closely as I dared to capture what it looked - and maybe even felt - like to try to touch the sky.
I can't stop time any better than she can defy gravity. And before long, she'll be so busy with life's other challenges that the thought of heading over to the playground will seem laughably juvenile. But on this day, none of that mattered as we opened our eyes just long enough to enjoy this fleeting moment of her fast forward life.
Your turn: Can you stop time?
We cant stop time, but yes, like you, perhaps we can build ourselves a better attitude to enjoy the trip !
ReplyDelete:)
I love your photo of your beautiful daughter, how you caught her in mid air is awesome! Now what kind of a word is "awesome"? A tired word? lol
ReplyDeleteAhhh yes, if we could stop time even if only for a wee bit but we can't so I'm just going to enjoy the ride.
Sadness & Joy in the same photo ... my daughter does not visit the park any more to go on the swings which is a little sad, I got the chance last week to take my little niece to the park, it all starts again ...
ReplyDeleteI you are (blessed) (lucky) like me you will have grandchildren some day and it starts all over again.
ReplyDeleteCarmi, I have read that the reason it seems that time goes by so fast is that we do the same routines day in and day out the same way... i.e. getting up at the same time, meals around the same time, going and coming to work the same time... The article said the way to slow down time is to do things not in the same manner.. to change up the routine because it will get our brain to rethink what needs to be done... Since I've started here on blogger, I now re arrange certain things.. some things that I would get done now are put off till another time... I've picked up a few more activities and I've noticed time does slow a bit...I remember when I was your daughter's age that I wanted to be 21.. Somehow 21 was that magical number cuz it meant I could do a lot.. Oh yeah, that means more responsibility!. LOL, The kids I worked with would always whine about being so young. I would tell them to enjoy being young. Why rush it? Life is easier when u are younger- no job, just responsibility to go to school... School is safe, the world isn't... Teachers have told me that and they are right.. College is like a cocoon...
ReplyDeleteI was asked today, "Are you a teenager?"
ReplyDeleteWe had a chat about children growing up into teenagers and then growing on again into grown ups.
"I am a grown up now", I said, but promised to send over photos of when I was a teenager.
I've just now sent them over and Oh My!....No, we can't stop time but...for a few moments here at my desk...I was sixteen again.
Can we stop time? No. But we should capture what we can of it, when we can.
One of my fav quotes: "Time slips by like a field mouse not shaking the grass." Great blog and great photo.
ReplyDeleteUm... no! But we sure can make the most of it :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you are lucky that your daughter still has time for the playground at her age. She's old enough not to have time, you know.
You can laugh, it's ok, but I have discovered how to almost, not totally but almost stop time or so it seems. It happens suddenly I discover when I realize in the middle of something every once in a while (some long dragged out work thing usually) that OMG it feels like 14 hours and it's only ben 40 minutes!!! See we do it, you have too I bet! ..and even now I still swing....it's kind of a girl thing I know!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I look at my son I want to stop time. Love the way you look at your daughter and your words.
ReplyDeleteCan you stop time? Of course not, but there are moments when I see that as much as things change, some of the best stay the same.
ReplyDeleteAfter that last big snow here, my 20-something daughter went out to fill the bird feeder. Later I looked out back at the only marks in the snow - tracks a straight shot from the garage to the bird feeders. Then a straight shot from the feeders to the swing set. And four feet in front of the swing set a bigger than footprint size depression in the snow. About the size a big kid would make after jumping from the swing and landing bum-first in the snow bank. How's that for stopping time?
If I could stop time, I would have been 21 forever.
ReplyDeleteYeah, not happening though.
OK ... I'm going to be the "rebel rouser" here!
ReplyDeleteYES!!! I can stop time. I do it every time I take a Photograph. It may only be for a moment, but that time ... that smile ... is captured in a solid substance and will never be repeated exactly the same. But the cool thing is that photograph can bring back memories that, maybe you had forgotten. It can reignite feelings that you had at that time.
I choose to say "YES" because photographs are the only things that I have of some people who were once in my life.
What beautiful thoughts and I absolutely agree! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
ReplyDeleteWell said, I too have been lamenting the quick passage of time and my kids growing before my eyes. I appreciate the reminder, I think I'm off to find a swing set tomorrow. ;)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Holly