“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days, before you’ve actually left them.”
-Andy Bernard, The Office
I’m starting to get the “summer is fleeting” feeling. Anyone else have this yet? Just like every year, I’m not too fond of it. It’s like I start to miss summer before it’s even over. The days are already noticeably shorter, the cicada are singing louder than ever, and the back-to-school commercials are on TV. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love fall and the changing of seasons in general. But I also can’t help but feel slightly nostalgic every time another summer starts to wrap itself up.
Even though this summer has been kind of weird as far as weather goes, I’ve done my very best to enjoy it. A while ago Bon wrote a post about the good old days that really resonated with me. And of course that quote above from Andy Bernard is pretty much embedded in my head forever now. So this summer I have made a conscious effort to notice the fact that I am living in the good old days right now. You know those times when you look around you at the people you’re surrounded by and just can’t help but smile and think, this right here is perfect. That to me is a “good old day.”
I’ve gotten pretty good at noticing days like that, they usually stand out in the most simple places I’ve come to realize. Like nights when Chris and I don’t go out but instead choose to stay in and drink wine on the patio and listen to music. I usually want Frank Sinatra, he usually wants something new-age no one’s even heard of yet. But we somehow always manage to come to a middle ground. And even though we complain about the fact we live in a teeny tiny apartment, and we’re not exactly in love with our jobs, and most of the time we just have no clue where life is going in general, I have this sneaking suspicion we’ll look back on this point in our lives and think of it as the good old days, never the less. I like to think we’ll laugh about this small living space we’ve managed to survive in together for almost three years. About the one bathroom we have in an apartment that sometimes holds up to five guests. Because while it’s not even close to perfect, we’ve somehow managed to enjoy it anyway.
If I’ve come to learn anything, it’s that life only seems to get more complicated with each year that’s added on. It definitely gets better every year, but more complicated as well. Ten years from now I bet we’ll look back on these times and wonder what on earth we had to worry about in the first place. At least that’s how I look back on every other moment up until now. Time is funny like that, the past seems to taunt the present every chance it gets.
I always feel as if I need to put a disclaimer on posts like this, you know something a little less “jokey” than I usually write. I’m not having a breakdown or anything like that, not even close. Just feeling content as I sip my glass of wine in this airport bar and doing a little self reflection is all. Airport bars tend to have that affect on me.
I guess I’m saying it’s just nice every once in a while to be able to look around you and realize that the good old days can happen at any moment. So whoever you are, wherever you are in life, try to notice your good old days as they’re happening. They’re a lot more fun that way I think. Because as for me, I’ve decided I’m going to have good old days for the rest of my life, or I’m at least going to try.
Amen, sister. I loved this post. It makes life so much sweeter when you are happy in the moment and truly live in the present. Because you're right: the good old days are now. And I think I'd like to always believe that 🙂
xo
I already miss summer and its not even over yet. Fall is actually my favorite season, but something about the atmosphere in summer is just awesome.
You put the way I have been feeling almost exactly into words (much better than I ever could I should add).
xxoo,
Jordyn
I LOVE the AB quote. I remember it from the series finale. Perfect!
I wish we got those type of days here… we don't. We may get "uhh Hurricane Season is almost over" type of days but with days that are 92 degrees or higher with humidity that makes it feel like it's 150 degrees outside and if you are a male your balls stick to your thigh (umm I heard this walking down the road today).. yeah.. we just don't have these days. Our summer lasts forever.. we have no winter, and before we sneeze it's spring again. Move here, I/we will welcome you with open arms and I will get you a spot at the comedy club/swinger club!
Absolutely in love with this post.
Pure perfection.
xoxo
What a WONDERFUL post. Well done. Truly.
it's probably just all the sugar i have had tonight but this made me tear up a lil! I need to think like this more, I'm pretty happy go lucky but i sometimes spend to much time trying to make my next move and not enough just being happy. you're a smart cookie.
I really love this post. I've been thinking about this very topic so much lately. Even something as simple as walking the dog on a beautiful day gets me to think 'this is pretty great.'
Great post! I agree with you that I'm getting slightly depressed that summer is coming to an end, it always seems to go way too fast. But I like the fact that you said we should be enjoying every day as if it's a "good ole day", because they are what we make of them!
I love this post as well. Since when did four years pass and drinking four nights a week became cohabitation with a dog, house, and 9-5
Ferris Bueller said it best
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."
BTW, Summer won't be over here until the end of October. It's still in the hundreds… if you're interested 😉
LittleBirdBlogs
Great post. So, so true. I'm in that weird in between state where everything is so great yet I'm wondering if its all going to fast. But I think you're right, perhaps these are the "good old days" and in which case we should enjoy them with lots of "adult beverages".
I loved this post. It felt a lot more personal than some of the jokey ones.
I was in a similar zone earlier. Looking back at photos from my life in London about 10 years ago. I saw happy care-free faces with so much ahead of them. I got that good ol' days feeling but also, happy that so much has happened since then that makes today a future good ol' day.
Amen. I know EXACTLY how you feel. And this whole summer almost gone thing, blah. Why does it have to happen EVERY.SINGLE.YEAR. lol. Fabulous post, love. If you get a sec, I'm sharing my Vanity Fair feature on my blog today. 🙂 xo
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"the past seems to taunt the present every chance it gets." so in love with that nugget! you're right–though our problems seem so dramatic right now, I know in ten years I'll look back and wish things could be this simple again. Here is my vow to appreciate the day-to-day grind as what will be future "good old days".
beautifully written. I feel that I take a lot of the moments I am going through now for granted. It's like you got to stop and smell the roses once in a well kind of feeling. your fabulous little lady
loved this. i'm having a hard time coming to realization that most of my friends are now mid twenties and that college really was 3 years ago. seems just like yesterday but if i remain in the present i realize hey it really isn't all that bad. great post.
Maybe it is that "summer is fleeting" feeling that is inducing some nostalgia for me also. I happen to be reading this entry sitting in hotel restaurant in West Africa, having similar thoughts and feelings. Your post is a reminder to look back fondly and with appreciation, not longing. Loved it 🙂
This post is truly amazing. Sometimes it is hard to "live in the moment" and sometimes we just need to read a post like this to bring us back to reality – life is good. Thank you!
GREAT post. And I feel like summer is fleeting too. I dont know why. We've had such an unusually wet and cool (i mean, in comparison!) summer that I havent gotten NEARLY enough sun in! It can't be over yet!
I still can't discuss the end of The Office without getting teary. that AB quote is the BEST!
ugh love this post. i need to do this more often.
Wow. Kind of bittersweet to read, but i've been feeling the same way! You're right, we need live like that!! Thanks for inspiring me today!
This is SO true! I'm guilty of wishing time away just to get to the next weekend or whichever but, the truth is, I need to slow down & enjoy this time we have in the present. After all, we're not promised tomorrow!
So true. The journey is the most important, because once you get to the end, you're dead.
But I like how you said it better, " these are the good old days" : )
Somewhat less morbid.
bisous
Suzanne
I'll drink to all of this. This may be one of my favorites of yours.
*Wipes away a single tear from the corner of my eye*
But really though, I loved this!
I'm 150% with you on this right now. took the words in my head and put them perfectly.
Consider this a virtual fist bump for one of the bestest posts and reminders ever.
Thanks for this reminder! Makes me want to just sloww down and go with the flow of enjoying the moments and not get so busy planning the next one!
Absolutely love that Andy Bernard quote and Ioved it when I watched the episode!! I also made a conscious effort to start appreciating the days as I love them and not just while looking back and it's crazy how much of a difference it makes!
there is so much truth behind this! as i've gotten older i've noticed that there are numerous times where i look around me and think "this. this right here is what life is all about." and most of the time, it's during those simple moments – like sunday cookouts with the family or early morning snuggles with my little girl.
great post!
I love that quote from The Office. When I was watching that episode, I got goosies. It's so true and really makes you think.
Awesome post.
Andy is a smart man…. I have been trying really hard lately to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment and the day before it's over !
Beautiful post Tay Tay. And as always, thanks for the shout out. I was just going to say "You're da bomb" but then I realized that's so middle school so just forget I mentioned it.
Awesome post! You are such a great writer!
You really hit a chord with me here Taylor, enough that I think I'm inspired to write my own take on it, so thank you for that! I completely relate to what you're saying about being crammed into a small apartment and having to make do with your jobs, but at the end of the day realizing you get to do this with your best friend. My husband and I are on the three year mark of that as well, and things are going to change up soon, so it kind of feels like with the end of this summer it's almost the end of this chapter as well. Here's to the good ole days!
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