Laurie

Disappointed by the Things We Didn’t Do

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” ~Mark Twain

 

Meditations in MotionSometimes I think I must exhaust my poor husband. I always have a million ideas about things to do, places to go, people to see, races to run. Every available slot in our schedule tends to be full.

Meditations in Motion

I am currently considering destinations for travel next spring. Just when I believe I have settled on one location, I hear about another one which seems even more appealing – The Galapagos Islands, Alaska, Mykonos, Portugal, Hawaii, New Zealand, Provence. My well-traveled friends have many suggestions.

Advertisements for races flood my inbox and show up in my Facebook notifications by the dozens, most of them enticing. Do I want to run a half marathon in South Dakota? A trail race in Navasota (Texas)? A marathon in Anchorage? Yes, yes, and yes. So many opportunities, so little time.

And there it is.

At my stage of life, we tend to want to see it all, do everything on our bucket list, to run all the races while we can, before our health, or our will, or our legs give out.

We become aware of just how precious time is when there is less of it left to spend.

Meditations in MotionHow did Mark Twain know about the social media phenomenon FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) almost 150 years ago?

I am linking with Welcome Heart for Let’s Have Coffee, Debbie at Dare 2 Hear,  Amy at Live Life Well, Raisie Bay for Word of the Week, Susan B Mead for Dancing With Jesus, Embracing the Unexpected for Grace and Truth, Random-osity for Little Things Thursdays, Reflections From Me for A Blogging Good Time, Knit by God’s Hand for Thankful Thursdays, Morgan’s Milieu for Post, Comment, Love, and Counting My Blessings for Faith ‘n Friends.

Please click on the following link to read more funny or inspirational one-liners. One-Liner Wednesday.

Meditations in Motion

 

 

 

 

66 comments

  1. I am doing my best not to regret not doing things and can so relate to exhausting my significant other! Sean handles it pretty well – though I can sometimes sense when he is overwhelmed with my planned activities! I didn’t say being with me was going to be a peaceful ride – just a really fun one!! Great post!

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  3. Great quote and wonderful thoughts, Laurie. I read all the places you want to go and found that resonating in my own heart. There are so many places I want to see, things I want to do. But, I am also realizing I need to pray and ask the Lord to show me His priorities for me. And then I need to choose to line up with His plans, especially when they’re different from my plans. Sometimes, I need to readjust my hopes so that I can find true joy in walking out His best for me.

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  6. Your list of destinations is so intriguing! And yes, who was it that said when they reached heaven they wanted to walk through the pearly gates completely spent, having used everything God gave them during their journey here?
    Me, too!

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  9. I am so thankful that I got into racecations because it’s a way for me to explore different locations. I also always have 1,000 travel ideas in my head so I always try to spend some time narrowing it down, lol

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  10. I have taken up water aerobics, which is something I have wanted to do for a long time, and I am enjoying it as much as I thought I would. Now I am looking into taking some foreign language classes. Life is never boring. xo Laura

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    • Water aerobics is so appealing! There are several classes at the rec center where I belong. Maybe I will have to check one of them out. Foreign language classes are appealing too!

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  11. Great post.
    I’d have a long list of place to visit and race to do. In the past I travelled a lot with the family and for work and I had also the possibility to race abroad.
    Now my wife is scared of flying and I am retired so it’s difficult to travel outside Italy. However with my son every year I go to watch a six nations tournaments match of rugby abroad so I have another chance. In 2020 we will come back to Dublin: rugby match Ireland – Italy and Parkrun 5k.

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    • We just visited Italy from the US last fall and loved it. You live in such a beautiful country with amazing food! If I lived in Italy, I might not want to leave either! 🙂

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  12. We do notice these things more the older we get, dont we? See the value of time & how precious it is. Cram in all the fun & good things while you can.

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  13. Yes, FOMO is REAL! There are so many marathons I’d love to do, but realistically they probably all will not happen. Many of them all seem to be fall marathons, so I’d have to spread them out over the course of several years…as if I’ll still be running marathons for the next 15 years LOL

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    • So true. Logistically it is tough to do very many marathons in a year. I have a friend who has probably done 8 or 10 in one year, but I could never do that!

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  14. Oh, this is so true Laurie. I want to see Alaska and go on a cruise and it seems imperative to do so as Alaska broils away and more and more of the majestic icebergs will be melting away. In 1982, I wavered between the Alaska cruise with a side tour in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. or doing a Panama Canal Cruise and several islands. Sadly I chose the latter – it was beautiful but I do wish I had chosen Alaska. That is on my bucket list, plus France and Italy as well. I loved Greece – took a 2-week trip, with one week as a land tour in Greece and a one-week cruise bopping to several Greek Islands. My boss did a Galapagos trip about 5-6 years ago and had a great time.

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    • The Panama Canal cruise also sounds wonderful. I bet you have a lot of great memories from that excursion! My sister and her family went to the Galapagos. They all think I would love it, since they know I love the outdoors. You probably would too for the same reason, Linda. I hope we both get to go on some of our dream trips.

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      • It was very nice – very hot but great weather Laurie. My favorite port of call was the San Blas Islands and that was a real experience. A picture from there is in this post if you want to take a peek. I think those big tortoises that are so old would be a draw for me at the Galapagos Islands. My boss went on a catamaran trip the following year on the Great Barrier Reef – he said it was very fun. It was really hot on the Panama Canal cruise and especially San Blas Ialands – no shade and you felt like you would melt. I hope we get to see all those places as well Laurie.
        https://lindaschaubblog.net/2016/08/11/island-girl/

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  15. You are definitely active, Laurie! 🙂 We are planning a trip to South Dakota next month, but we won’t be running any marathons there. ha. Planning a trip is almost as much fun as living it out, so enjoy this stage too.

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    • Have fun in SD, Lisa! I was amazed at how beautiful it is there! I went on a trip with 4 girlfriends (yes, 5 women in one hotel room, sharing 1 bathroom!!!) to run a marathon. Highlights of the trip were The Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, and Custer State Park. Planning is fun! Bill leaves that up to me.

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  16. My hubby is not a traveler. Sigh.

    But I do what I can with friends and with limited vacation time. I tell everyone that I work to afford my vacations.

    Paris last fall.

    Bermuda next winter.

    NYC marathon is the big one.

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    • My hubby didn’t use to be a traveler, but my family converted him! We always went on vacations when I was a girl. I knew I wanted to continue that with my kids. Traveling with my running girlfriends has always been a lot of fun!

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  18. Hello, life is short and I would love go more places on my bucket list. I was just telling hubby we need to go to new places, see more like Greece, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. I do not run but I love to hike. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day! Have a happy weekend ahead.

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    • Yes, if only money wasn’t an issue! 🙂 Now is the time to travel while we are still able to do it! You have a great weekend too, Eileen.

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  19. I love living a full and active life. I am always cautioning people to live each day to the fullest….not to wait for the trips planned or events ahead. Spend the time every day like you want to spend it…don’t waste it. That’s all you have…right now.

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  23. My husband is the one with lots of ideas and I am more low key about life. We travel and have fun. Wishing you the best with whatever travel plans you make! Thanks for linking up.

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  24. Of the two of us, my Prince Charming is the one who wants to be on the go all of the time. I like to go one day of the weekend but like to be home the other. And through the week, I am retired, I like being in my house!! I do write seasonal bucket lists and share them on my blog…our next update is 07.21…and in that way, I think of activities, experiences, projects that we can enjoy doing together but I spread them over 3 months. If you create a formal bucket list, please come link up with us.

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    • Isn’t it wonderful when partners can complement each other like you and your “Prince Charming”? I will be glad to link up. What is your website? Your name (mommyhon333) doesn’t have a link.

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  26. I second New Zealand. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been, plus there isn’t a language barrier, it’s pretty affordable once you get there, and the people are so friendly and nice. Truly, it’s hard to beat!

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  28. I think when we get to this point in our lives – somewhere past the likely halfway point – we truly start to understand that life is short. In our household, it is my husband that is the primary driver behind most of our plans (although I occasionally add in some of my own). I don’t have a bucket list nor a driving need to do this or that, but I make a point of being flexible and open to opportunities. Because if not now, when? We don’t know if we will have another chance to do or experience what’s being offered. So mostly my answer is: “count me in!”

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    • Exactly Michelle – if not now, when? When I was growing up, my dad was the parent who came up with all the traveling ideas. I have inherited that role from him. “Count me in” is a great attitude to have.

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  29. YES YES YES! Love this post, I have been going on and on to my hubby that we need to do the things we love more. I want to experience so much and live for the moment! Love this post it is so inspiring! #Ablogginggoodtime

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    • All we really have is today; no one is promised tomorrow. I think you should do the things you love. You can tell your hubby I said so! 🙂

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