Monday, June 17, 2013

Focus on Milestones

by Dotti



This past weekend we celebrated my granddaughter’s sixth birthday. It seems impossible.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I celebrated our 41st anniversary. It seems impossible.

Next weekend we all travel to Pennsylvania for a family reunion to celebrate my mother’s 85th birthday. It seems impossible.

All these celebrations got me thinking about the month of June in general. If I were given the responsibility of picking a nickname for the month of June, I believe it would have to be “Month of Milestones”. June, or close to it, generally marks the end of the school year and promotion to the next grade. Graduations of all stripes … kindergarten, middle school, high school, college, graduate school, professional school. Weddings … June still seems to be perhaps the most popular month for weddings which, of course, makes it a month of wedding anniversaries. And always, June birthdays. The list goes on but I think you get the drift of my somewhat sentimental thinking.

I know it’s easy for us mothers and grandmothers to look at these milestones and get sentimental about how swiftly time is passing, how quickly our children and grandchildren are growing. How all too rapidly we’re growing older.

While searching for a quote to use today the one above stopped me in my tracks. While it wasn’t exactly what I was searching for, it seemed perfect. Dr. Seuss got it right, I think. {Didn’t he always?} Instead of being wistful, let’s smile and cherish the beautiful memories of life and the milestones it brings.

And as photographers, we’re doubly blessed. We get to record these priceless memories and preserve them for our kids and grandkids. Too often now, my own granddaughter doesn’t want me to take her photo but I know sometime down the road, she’ll be glad she has a way to look back on her special memories.

So let’s keep on doing what we do best: taking photos, saving them in books, videos, albums, canvas and framed prints … and sharing them with our families. For always.


9 comments:

Carol said...

Love this, Dotti. I'm good at talking about this-not so good at doing it. But still, it occurs to me that if you are busy saying "I'm going to miss this," then you already are - living in a place where it's already gone instead of in the moment, I will keep trying to live in the moment, and photography helps me with that.

AFishGirl said...

Wonderful post, Dotti, a true inspiration to get those shots. All of them. Even the kind of blurry ones. They are our shared history. Right on.

Katie said...

Thank you for the encouragement, Dotti. I'll just right on shooting my kids, whether or not they like it---I know their kids will love looking at the pix one day!

heyjudephotography said...

Seeing time fly by is a scary thing. This is such an important reminder to stay in the moment, enjoy each second, and also remember that there will be more special milestones ahead!

CarolHart said...

A timeless and timely reminder. This month has certainly marked some major milestones in my life as well. It is a powerful feeling to know we are in this moment together.

Deanna said...

Sweet sweet post, Dotti. Memories and moments are indeed there to be cherished.

terriporter said...

June has always been a huge month for celebration and milestones in our family. My dad, youngest son and grandson all have June birthdays and then there's Father's Day, graduations and weddings. Every milestone these days tends to remind me of how fast time is flying by. Since there's no stopping it, enjoying every minute seems to be the best option! Love the Dr. Seuss quote! It's a great one and a great reminder.

gina said...

I love this quote - so important! We were just remembering all the big events that occurred over the decades in June. So many milestones! It is wonderful to have the photos to help us remember the special days.

Sarah Huizenga said...

My daughter and I were just talking about this yesterday in the car, about how important it is to record that "history" of your life for your children and grandchildren.

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