Date Night.
Our lives are moving at such a swift pace, if we don’t pause to enjoy it we will wake up one day not knowing where the time went. Erik and I have been so busy with interviewing, work travel, and other life events that we haven’t had a moment to enjoy the simplicities of life together. Just like in the beginning of our journey, he asked me on a date Friday night and the giddy feeling filled my stomach with butterflies all over again. Where are we going to go? What should we do? The anticipation of getting ready, finding a cute outfit, and making our way downtown was just what we needed.
Our calendars have been busy and his work schedule has been draining so when it comes to the weekends, we have used this time to decompress. As we stopped to reflect, we realized it had been quite some time since we made a conscious decision to go out on a date to just talk, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company. Life gets busy and I’m sure we are not the only ones to come to this realization. It’s mid-October, quickly approaching November and I have no idea where this year has gone.
It has been a year of memories for us that will forever be cherished. Going to Sweden, vacationing in Mexico, moving to Colorado, and taking a trip to California I cannot believe what the year has been. These big milestones are important and will forever be remembered but the little things are just as crucial. We are intentionally focusing on life’s smaller moments because when we look back, some of those moments will stand out the most. As we walked through the art district of Denver, we held hands and perused the various restaurants, trying to decide where we wanted to eat. We came to the realization that our ‘party days’ are long gone. Going into bars with loud music and dark lighting, we quickly looked at each other with the understanding that it was not our scene. Walking out of the bar saying “How are people supposed to have a conversation with the music playing so loud??” We never thought that phrase would cross our lips but at the same time we are okay with where we are in life. I’m happy to know my husband would rather go somewhere quiet so we can enjoy a thoughtful conversation rather than listening to loud music all throughout dinner while having to scream across the table each time we want to say something. Along with date nights, we talked about some of the things we’ve been wanting to do in Colorado since relocating and we want to make a conscious effort to check those items off our list.
Planning a weekend getaway to the mountains is something we decided over the weekend. Making each weekend an opportunity to connect and enjoy each other’s company without life’s distractions. We are both excited to plan the trip together, decide what we should do, and check something off our list that we’ve been meaning to do since we moved. Just a little reminder that being intentional with your time is both necessary and sometimes difficult. Time doesn’t slow down for anyone and we don’t want to wake up one day realizing we didn’t do the things we wanted to. Moving to Colorado was a huge leap for us but looking back on our lives we’re going to be so happy we did it.
Everyday is an opportunity to embrace life’s simplicities! Watching TV together is an easy option to fall back on but it’s the little things that will make an impact. Going on an ice cream date or taking a walk during the sunset are great ways to get out of the usual routine while enjoying someone’s company. Five years of being together and I was thrilled to have him ask me on a date. Never stop making an effort. Always focus on the little things because they make a huge impact. Always date your partner no matter how long you have been together. Life will always continue moving forward, it is what you choose to do with each day that creates your life’s storybook. Make sure to fill your pages with unique narratives, made up of big moments and small gestures, life moves faster than you realize sometimes.
These are all things I have to keep reminding myself of and I must make a constant effort to make the most of each day. As I put in my wedding vows, tomorrow is not promised, not in life or marriage. I will always choose my last day and my tomorrow to be spent with my life partner, Erik. I have to remember to look back at my vows every now and then to refresh my memory on the promises I made. I didn’t write them for that moment, I wrote those vows to stand the test of time. Maybe this is a gentle reminder to take a moment with your partner whether you’re married, dating, or balancing life with kids. Time together is important even if it’s 30 minutes, it’s the quality that matters not the quantity you are able to give. Making the effort means more than you know.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” -Ferris Bueller
