A few days ago a friend came to town unexpectedly. We hadn’t seen each other in about 10 years, despite several attempts. We were fortunately able to find some time to get together for dinner and ice cream, during a break I had in an otherwise completely busy week, although naps necessitated that we meet up later than I would have liked. By the time I picked her up I only had less than two hours before I needed to be at my next engagement, but as we talked and caught up with our past and present lives, I quickly realized that I didn’t care if I was late, or even completely missed what I had planned. At that moment I didn’t want to be anywhere but there, sharing together over good food and capitalizing on the rare moment to be present.

I’m going to speak personally here, although I’m sure there are some of you out there that can relate. I have a bad habit of rushing through life. The fact that I can remember minute details from ten years ago but not what I did ten minutes ago is not a sign of losing my short term memory in my older age. It means I’m on auto pilot so much I have no idea what I’m doing most of the time. This is a big problem when it comes to tracking down my phone and keys, but an even bigger problem when dealing with friends. It’s hard to develop relationship when you’re floating in and out of people’s lives. Sometimes you’re moving so fast you don’t even notice someone who may be very important to your future.

This blog entry is an encouragement to everyone, myself especially, to slow down. Enjoy the moments with friends and engage in their story. I don’t want to spend my life as a background actor who occasionally gets a speaking role. There should be at least a few people in my life for whom I’m in the opening credit sequence.