I Miss You

Posted on | June 20, 2009 | No Comments

It’s sad how we realize just how fiercely we care about certain things, only once they’re gone… What five things do you miss most now that they’re gone? (via Soul Pancake)

Nap Time – Once an essential part of my routine, naps have now fallen by the wayside. While many other countries in the world value the afternoon nap (Spain, Latin America, some Mediterranean and South Asian countries), our American culture prizes “the hustle” and working from 9 to 5, what a way to make a living. I refined my ability to nap in college, but now that I’m an “adult,” I push through the work-day, often hitting a slump around 2pm or 3pm. Honestly, I’d happily work later each day if I knew I could catch a few zzz’s in the afternoon.

Swinging – it used to be my favorite part of the playground. I don’t get to the playground much these days. But I can still remember the feeling, the rush I got from swinging higher and higher. I used to think that if I swung high enough, I’d be able to flip right over the top of the swing set. When you leaned back, let your hair down and closed your eyes, you could almost imagine that you were flying. There was a sense of freedom associated with swinging. I miss that.

The chance to study abroad – I’ve been really fortunate in my life to have had the opportunities to visit a number of European countries. But I never studied abroad in college and that is definitely a decision I wish I could revisit. Visiting as a tourist is completely different from living there, studying there, absorbing it all. I thought about it all the time, but I’m not entirely sure why I didn’t follow through. I think I got scared – of what I would be going to, of what I would have to leave behind. I was much more self-conscious in college and wasn’t adept at making friends. I think I was afraid of being in different country all alone. Now, of course, I wish I had just leaped into the unknown. I still hope to live abroad someday. But I should have grabbed my chance when I could.

My rose-colored glasses – of course, I’m not referring to literal rose-colored glasses, but rather the time in my life when everything was good and right. For a long time, I was a dreamer, an idealist and, most likely, very naïve about the world. In some ways, I still am, but a lot has happened in my life that’s made me much more wary about people, situations, and life. I’m probably better suited to life as an adult, now that I’ve been dosed with some realism and practicality, but the world needs idealists and dreamers. I miss feeling like, no matter what, everything was going to be okay.

Faith community – I’ve spent a lot of time wrestling with ideas of faith, theology and religion and while it remains one of my main interests, I don’t really have a good grasp on my own beliefs nor do I have a community to help me figure things out. I’ve felt lost, spiritually, for so long that I now really miss the idea of a community of believers (whatever the beliefs) coming together to support and challenge each other. This particular “miss” is, at least, something I feel like I can still find again, as long as I’m willing to go looking for it.

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