"The Timeless Moments: Remembering You"

Hey bookworms, it’s been a while since we’ve connected through these quiet words I write to you. As I fill the pages of my journal daily, tears of both happiness and sadness have found their way onto the paper. Sometimes, a much-needed break is essential to mend the cracks and smudges of ink that flow with my thoughts. Some of the most beautiful pieces I’ve written have been about time—how fleeting it is and how we should treasure the moments we have. Maybe I’ve been waiting for this time of year, with the leaves falling and the crisp, cool air, to dive back into writing again.

Autumn is my favorite season, with its damp mornings, cozy warmth, and the comforting glow of candles paired with a cup of warm tea. There’s something about getting older that makes you appreciate the slower moments. You begin to look at the world with a different perspective, one that values stillness and reflection. The quiet moments are no longer something to rush through, but something to savor. I’ve learned that there’s beauty in the pause, and I cherish those pauses more now than ever.

Tomorrow, I celebrate 36 years of living on this planet. Yet, I feel like part of me passed four years ago, when my life was changed in a way I never anticipated. That was the moment I truly woke up to what living really is. The night before my birthday was also the night I lost my mentor, my goofy and stubborn Pop Pop. He was mouthy and hard on me, but he was also one of the most hardworking, loving, and wise men I’ve ever known.

Pop Pop could fix anything and always gave me the best advice, whether I wanted to hear it or not. His outlook on life was beautiful, even if his delivery wasn’t always gentle. I’ll never forget him, and today I’ve set out the red wine, put on some Johnny Cash and Tom Petty, and turned on that lighthouse that lives in my heart. I don’t always want to celebrate my birthday, but this day will always remind me of him, of the peace he found, and of the fact that he’s no longer in pain.

Every year on my birthday, I feel a deeper connection to him. The day is more special, not because it’s my birthday, but because I’m reminded of how much I love and miss him. I often think of him, and I hope he’s proud of the woman I’ve become. It’s funny how time works in that way—how we measure it, live by it, and yet, somehow, it controls the best parts of our lives.

From the second we’re born until the moment we die, the clock is always ticking. It marks our mornings, our nights, and our entire lives. But we rarely stop to think about how much it influences us. Time is the one thing that never truly stops, except in our minds, when a song, a smell, or a memory takes us back. There are moments in life when time seems to freeze, but only in our hearts, when something or someone takes our breath away.

We spend all our lives watching the clock, letting it run us, until it finally stops. Like flashes on a camera, time freezes only in the moments we can look back on. As we grow older, life becomes stiller, and we start to notice the clock more. We cherish the people around us more deeply, and life begins to make more sense. You become humble in the presence of time, as you listen to the constant tick-tock, tick-tock.

I can honestly say now that I’ve been yearning for this part of my life. Being an old soul with a gentle heart has always been a part of who I am. The experiences I’ve had, the different careers I’ve pursued, all led me to this point where I finally feel at home in myself. I’m so incredibly proud of who I’ve become—the authenticity, the richness, and the heaviness I’ve allowed myself to let go of. Time heals, but it also teaches. It’s both painful and precious, so when you look at your clock or your phone, remember to make sure you’re running the clock—and not letting it run you.