Psst!…Don’t Forget To Live

Michelle Okafor
3 min readMay 27, 2023

​​Enjoy the little things. For one day you may look back and realise they were the big things. — Robert Brault

The rugby field this morning.

We had to wake up early today, on a Saturday, because my son’s rugby match started at 08h30 and we needed to be at school by 07h45. The school is only 10 mins away and although I thought that it could have been a bit later, what consoled me was that with such an early match we could be back home by 10h00, amazing.

It is just the start of the winter here, so getting out of bed took some, and some more. We eventually made it to school with ample time before the start of the match. Other parents started to arrive as well. We were all in the same boat.

I had to keep reminding myself that this was about my son, not me. I made a conscious effort to stay present and enjoy the time. I got some coffee from the canteen and made myself comfortable. After all, my son is only 12 once.

When I see other parents with smaller children I want to pinch myself. I’m wondering, where did the time go? Just the other day, he was five and learning how to swim. I remember the swimming lessons, because they were a battle. I can’t remember much else from around that time.

I saw a colleague’s baby last week, he was tiny, only 8 months old. Time flies. Enjoy every moment. It goes so quickly. I still remember when I was in high school wondering what I’m going to do with my life when I grow up. I had no clue.

Fast forward and more than 20 years later, I am thinking back to those moments and want to cherish them forever. When you are more than half-way through your 4 000 weeks you start reminding yourself to be more present. In every moment.

It’s easy to chase big goals, like a promotion at work, your first home, getting married. In between these moments, remember to breath and remain present.

A lot is happening around us, don’t let that sweep you off your feet. It was new year the other day. We are getting close to the half-way mark of 2023. How has this year been for you?

It’s been an exciting year. There is so much I want to achieve. There is the dream of becoming a solopreneur, one I’ve had for a while but at the same time I’m scared of losing my monthly income. I have dabbled with self employment before. I even had my own fashion design business. Sadly, I have not been able to stay with one thing long enough. As soon as the foundation start to become shaky, I would look for reassurance in a monthly pay check.

Hopefully this time it will be different. One only gets so many starting overs before your time runs out. We often hear about regrets of the aged and think, that won’t be me. It can so easily be. Don’t fool yourself.

Stop faffing around and start doing Michelle. A reminder to myself, more than anything.

Blessings

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Michelle Okafor

Writer of short, inspirational pieces. Make the most of your time here, for we pass this way only once. See the good in yourself and others.