Spring Break in Omaha

On Wednesday, Emma will be here for ten days. I’m pumped to see her. It doesn’t feel like it’s been two months–it feels closer to forever sometimes. After three years I wouldn’t say it gets easier, you just get used to it I guess.

Pardon me while I wax poetic…

Life is a funny thing, full of so many mixed emotions and experiences. Feelings of pain and joy, sometimes bittersweet on the tongue. Every time I see my daughter it’s joyous, exciting and happy, mixed with the sadness that she will have to leave sooner or later.

I accept this. I never have to like it, just accept it as it IS. Do I hope this changes one day? Of course, but I understand the limitations of the now and I look to the future.

So many people these days, myself included, get lost in the day-to-day. At times we all fall prey to the belief that life is a laundry list of things to accomplish. Graduate, Marriage, House, 2.5 kids, dog, etc etc.

Then Jack and I were talking last week and he said he had the realization that life is not an academic exercise. That simple sentence rang true with my own beliefs. It struck a chord inside of me.

I made a promise to myself last year. Say “yes” more and “no” less. Life isn’t that academic exercise. There’s no grade at the end. Live it, enjoy it, work with it. Life is supposed to be fun, engaging, filled with family and friends.

What does this have to do with Emma? Everything! My life with my daughter is ‘non-traditional’ but I wouldn’t trade it for anything less. She’s an awesome kid and even though she lives 1100 miles away, she can bring me joy over the phone or over our webcam when she smiles at me and tells me she loves me.

It’s the experience. It’s taking the bad along with the good. It’s enjoying every minute of it, even when it sucks, because it tempers you and forges a stronger soul.

And I accept it.