I spoke to a friend of my parents recently. My parents, that friend, her husband and a few other couples were great friends. They had so many wonderful adventures together. Yet, when talking to that friend, I realized that chapter has passed. While my parents' friend still has good memories and strong feelings for my parents, conditions out of their control have moved them apart. My parents and their friend are involved in new chapters of life--chapters that mostly don't include each other.
That happens in life. We think that we're going to be with the people we're close to now for all time when we are in the thick of our relationships, but in many cases, our connections are chapters in life, not all of life. Knowing that life happens in chapters helps us to appreciate each chapter with greater strength, care and commitment. It's critical to make the most of each chapter. As my mom always said, "Enjoy each stage because each stage is unique and you'll never be at that stage again."
Thinking about this makes me focus on these questions:
- What stage of life am I in?
- What is extraordinary about this stage?
- How can I make the most of this stage so when I look back, I won't have regrets and I'll have great memories and satisfaction instead?
- Who are the important people in this stage of life?
- Who can I help and support in this stage in meaningful ways?
- How can I respect and support the chapters of life my loved ones are in--what can I do to help them make the most of those chapters?