In January, my husband and I took what we have described as “the trip of a lifetime.” We went to Turkey, Kenya, and South Africa. It’s a trip that we’ve talked about for years, planned for and saved for months. The trip included safaris, incredible animal sightings and beautiful views. We met some wonderful people and we ate our way through all three countries. It was everything we had hoped it would be and more. It was the trip of a lifetime!

Yet, when we got home and shared our photos and some of our adventures with friends and family, I started to feel sad. If this was the trip of our lifetime, what’s left? Was this it? We certainly can’t take trips like this every year. Have we hit the peak of our lives with the trip of a lifetime? That seemed kind of depressing. I’m sure we will travel again, and yet what if we couldn’t for some reason? We have friends and family members who are not able to travel for a variety of reasons and yet they seem to be finding joy in life. 

Maybe it is time for me to reframe the “trip of a lifetime” in a way that doesn’t feel as if it’s the last exciting trip or glorious moment of my lifetime. It was fun to plan for this trip and it’s been really fun reminiscing about it. I’m not going to stop doing that and I’m certainly not going to work on getting some other trips on the calendar just yet. But I’m here today and today really is all there ever is. It’s this moment, this day in my life. So how can I make each day the “day of a lifetime?” 

Since lion cubs aren’t going to be in each day of a lifetime, how can I look for the joy and the adventure in each day? My rescue goldendoodle, Ralph, certainly helps. My husband, my children, my work, my home, my friends… all of those people and situations make each day the day of a lifetime. They are all there if I look for them, kind of like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. When I look at each day as the day of a lifetime, I actually look for the fun and adventure of that day. And although there are no wild elephants in my backyard, there are scenes of beauty and nature that are meaningful to me. 

So I’m on a quest to make each day the day of a lifetime. I’m going to work on living in the moment, while also plotting my next trip of a lifetime. It would help if I had lion cubs and baby elephants around to keep me motivated, but I’ll do my best while just remembering how joyful it was to see them in person. 

Love,

Lisa Kaplin Psy. D. PCC