"Enjoy it! It will be your last." After graduating from high school and beginning that odd summer of transition from miniature-adulthood into mild-adulthood, I couldn’t help but notice the emphasis placed on savoring final moments. This pattern of not valuing something until it is gone bleeds into every aspect of our lives; it is so pervasive. Hurry up and wait for those last few moments to cherish.

On the other end of the timeline lies the need to capture and remember every first. First steps, first words, first haircut…but like many things the firsts fade away into the everyday.

Eventually our life reaches points where we don’t count firsts and lasts too often. We live without marking moments. We reminisce about the firsts and wait for the lasts.

There’s so much beauty to be found in first dates or last days of school, but what about the stuff in the middle? What about that sixth date with your person or a class two weeks into the semester? Are those not worth remembering or celebrating?

It’s hard to make every day count. It’s hard to live in the moment and not get caught in the past or in waiting for the next big thing. We cannot possibly live every moment to the fullest like some cheesy greeting card, but we can try to make as many of those “in-betweens” count.

Appreciate, value, and enjoy the little things along the way.