A Some Day Jar

I used to think the only people who would move overseas for a year were people who were really adventurous or really committed to their faith. While I would say I meet both of those criteria, it always seemed like the people going for a year were at a level above and beyond me. Maybe I could do that. Some day. Some day was August 12, 2011.

Sometimes I think, when I grow up I want to be a great teacher, have a disarming smile, be athletic, be outdoorsy and adventurous, be a great hostess, be tall and slender, be a great writer…. the list goes on and on. All of these things I hold captive in a some day jar. I'm not talking about a bucket list of expensive and exotic places to see or experiences to have. I'm talking about a some day jar.

Some day I want to get serious about my faith…

Some day I want to get around to talking with my parents about growing up when they did…

Some day I want to be compassionate…

When is your some day? When are you finally going to carpe that diem? Being a great teacher takes today and tomorrow and moment after moment of faithfulness to the task. Being a great writer takes thousands and thousands of words and hours spent carefully choosing, rearranging, deleting. Maybe you'll realize, as I did, that moving to Australia for a year was just the next step in life. It was no longer an out of reach, out of the realm of possibility, crazy idea. I was ready. It's just going from training wheels to keeping your balance. It's not easy, but it is simple.

I think I'm going to unscrew the lid of my some day jar. Living life to the fullest means living today to the fullest. It means turning a some day jar into a today jar.  It's a transition in thinking from "I want to care about people more" to writing that note of encouragement today.  We have been given today. Tomorrow exists only as a hypothetical.

Little Miss Sunshine