the best is not yet to come
Driving to work this morning, I found myself thinking about what I would like to write about today and I realized something wonderful: Every single day I have the opportunity to write about something and share it with the world (okay, maybe it's just a small group of loyal readers, but still!). Being a writer, this is something that really filled me with wonder and amazement. Certainly I've been writing since I can remember, but to share it, to put it out there like I've started doing recently, really adds a new level of excitement to my life. I was filled with joy when I realized that I have been given the wonderful opportunity to share my thoughts with others and, in spite of the gloomy weather lurking ominously outside of my car window, I smiled a big, happy smile.
As happy as I was, I still wasn't sure what to write about. I keep a list of topics and quotes and musings in order to generate ideas, but today, after such an inspiring stroke of happiness, I wanted to be inspired with what to write about. And -- suddenly -- there is was! Driving along, semi-lost in my thoughts, I caught the words coming from the speakers -- the lyrics to Dave Matthews Band's "Pig." The first time I heard this song I was 14 years old and, years later, it's still on my iPod (or, rather, it's moved from a tape to a CD to an iPod). As many times as I've listened to the song, I never realized how inspiring the lyrics were until this morning...
Isn't it strange how we move our lives for another day
Like skipping a beat
What if I great wave should wash us all away
Just thinking out loud
Don't mean to dwell on this dying thing
But look at my blood
It's alive right now and deep and sweet within
Pouring through our veins
Intoxicate, moving wine to tears and drinking it deep
Then an evening spent dancing, you and me
This love will open our world
From the dark side we can see the glow of something bright
There's so much more than we see here
Don't burn the day away
Is this not enough?
This blessed sip of life, is it not enough?
Staring down at the ground,
Complain and pray for more from above,
You greedy little pig
Stop, just watch your world trickle away
It's your problem now
It'll all be dead and gone in a few short years
Just love will open our eyes
Just love will put the hope back in our minds
Much more than we could ever know
So don't burn the day away
Come sister, my brother
Shake up your bones, shake up your feet
I'm saying, open up and let the rain come pouring in
And wash out this tired notion
That the best is yet to come
While you're dancing on the ground
Don't think of when you're gone
Love, love, love
What more is there?
We need the light of love in here
Don't beat your head
Dry your eyes
Let the love in there
There's bad times, but that's okay
Just for love in it
Look, here we are on this starry night
Staring into space
And I must say, I feel as small as dust
Lying down here
What point could there be troubling?
Head down, wondering,
What will become of me?
Why concern what we cannot see
But no reason to abandon it
The time is short, but that's alright
Maybe I'll go out in the middle of the night
Take your hands from your eyes, my love
All good things must come to an end sometime
But don't burn the day away
I don't know about you, but I find these lyrics very inspiring (and they are even more so when you heard them with the music). These words remind me to be grateful, to be loving, and, most importantly, to live in the present moment. As I was typing up the lyrics, rain is pouring down outside and I was particularly moved when I typed up these words: "let the rain come pouring in/wash out this tired notion/that the best is yet to come." That notion is tired. The best is not yet to come. The best is now. This moment. Today. Even though today is absolutely miserably gloomy and I have quite a few tasks I don't want to attend to, I had a truly positive moment this morning on the way to work and I know that Dave Matthews (or whoever wrote those lyrics) was on to something when he told us to wash out this tired notion that the best is yet to come. The best is right now so stop waiting or searching. Realize that this moment, your now, is the best and embrace it.
Life is all about living in the moment! So good for you realizing the power of the moment and embracing it! You go, girl!
Posted by: Nadia - Happy Lotus | April 03, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Thanks, Nadia! I appreciate the encouragement. It's not always easy for me to seize the moment and be positive, so it's always nice to read supportive words.
Posted by: positively present | April 03, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Love it. Some of the best inspiration I find in music.
Posted by: Christopher | April 03, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Christopher - music is most definitely the most inspiring thing I encounter on a regular basis. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Posted by: positively present | April 08, 2009 at 04:44 PM