Living In-between

LIVING IN-BETWEEN

Rushing about

From place to place

Sometimes as if

To win a race

We go about our day

This way

Heading towards our goal

Focusing on the part we’ll play

Our role

Always coming

Always going

Forgetting the time

That comes between

A lost time

It would seem

Take a moment

And look around

At the others

To their goals

Are bound

In these others

you will see

How we all seem to be

Like shadows we walk about

Until our goal

We find

Then the switching on

Of our mind

We animate

And congregate

But what of

These times between

Those moments

That are lost

So it would seem

We are so intent

On where we go

That living the moment

We do not know

We look back and wonder

Where did the time go

And realize

We have little to show

As we slow down

And look around

Open our eyes

To truly see

Our surroundings

And in the moment

To be

A whole new world

Opens wide

One in which

We always did reside

Birds do sing

Flowers do grow

Life around us

With radiance

Doth glow

The divine around us

Doth show

And in the end

When we have time

To reflect

Will we have lived fully

Or do we regret

Did we our lives neglect

Or better yet

Did this time, we respect

I would like to think

When that time comes

We are all dancing

In the rays of the sun

Basking in a life

And joyously remember

Those precious moments, replete

A life well lived

A life complete

-Shiidon, February 2010

This poem came to me one day while running an errand. I was driving towards an outdoor mall to procure a book for my son when I noticed some people walking with purpose. There were five or so of them and they were not talking together or interacting thought it was clear from their gate that they were together and going somewhere with a purpose. After parking, I noticed another person heading in the same direction alone and in the same manner. It came to me that once arriving they would all come to life, like actors on stage and interact and enjoy whatever occasion was bringing them together. That was when this poem came to me. As I left the bookstore and headed between cars, I held my head up and a person coming the other way said "hi." That person was clearly living in the moment. I then thought, what if something happened and we did not reach that place we were intending to go, what if for whatever reason everything stopped for us. Did we live those precious moments to their fullest?

OK, now take it one step further. When we are young, we focus on the future we want, the job, spouse, children etc. Will we sacrifice the precious moments we have growing up to reach that dream? In my case it started slowly. I went to the opera thirteen years ago and enjoyed it tremendously. It was not until this year that I realized that I was waiting for the right time to go back to the opera. I was waiting for "someone" to go with, friend, spouse or family. I decided that it was time to live. I have now seen two of the three operas this season here in Austin and will see the third. I am going to see a classical (comic) performance in two weeks and will look at going to other events. I am not waiting to live, I want to live now. Already there are too many moments lost in time that I "could have" or "would have" done this or that. It is never too late.

The next time you are driving with your spouse somewhere, don't be that couple that is staring ahead, be animated and take that precious time and enjoy life together. If you are alone, look around (don't get into an accident :) and don't drive in "remote control." Take advantage of the friendships you have, you do not know when you will move on. Don't reflect on your children on how they where or where you want them to be. Look at them for who they are now and live that moment with them, show them that these little times in life are important as well. May we all live a life complete.