Friday, April 17, 2009

Don't know what you got....


...til it's gone. I believe this statement to be true in so many ways. And this post is not about the normal cleshea love lost type of thing, but more the little things that we take for granted every single day. This topic is obviously present in my heart from losing someone special and not always enjoying every moment with that person. But also more recently because I'm getting ready to move. I have lived where I'm at now for 3 years and lived close to downtown Cincinnati for the last 5 years. The place I'm at now is the perfect location. I live on a busy street literally 2 mins driving distance to anything you might want to do. Newport on the levee, downtown, food, shops, nightclubs, parks, everything. I could walk down the street 10 mins and be at the Levee, it's great.

Today after work I decided to go to Rock Bottom with some co-workers. After we had a couple drinks and food I took the shuttle bus to the party source and then walked to my gym/tanning bed. While I was waiting for someone to clean out a bed I looked out the door to the skyline. The gym has a beautiful view of downtown and I thought to myself "Have I ever really just sat back and enjoyed what sits right down the street from me every single day?" When I was downtown there were tons of people on Fountain Square. Once I made it back to the Kentucky side there were people outside everywhere. How often had I gotten out and become a part of the fun? I know that I enjoyed my time at my apartment. Anytime I went out everyone met at my house for drinks first and then we went out. Which was always great. But how many times had I just taken a walk to the river? I love photography, how many times had I just walked down and taken pictures of the skyline? Or just sat on the park bench and soaked it all in? I grew up in this city near this skyline and now I plan to leave it for something a lot more counrtyish. Which I also like, don't get me wrong, but I doubt I'll ever live back this way. Doubt I'll ever be able to take a 5 dollar cab ride to the bar for a night of fun and drinks.


There will be no more walks from home to the gym or to the corner store or to a restraunt. No more staying downtown after work to grab a beer with friends and then taking the 5 minute shuttle back home or walking back home for that matter. My point is I've had this luxury for so long and how much did I actually utilize it. I just always assumed I'd have to opportunity to use my location to my advantage. Sort of an, "I'll do that tomorrow" concept that's been going on for a long time. It made me sad today. Why do we get so caught up in the everday routine that we get too lazy to do little things that will make us smile? Like I said I LOVE photography, I can't tell you the last time I picked up my professional camera and made it a point to just take photos. And why not? Because I'm too busy?


I am going to miss being in this apartment a lot. I guess to some extent I feel like it goes hand and hand with my youth. It may sound dumb, but moving from it will put me 20 mins from my skyline view and be replaced with a highly wooded area. At this point in my life I don't think it's bad but it's a huge transition and it leaves me wishing that I would have done more to enjoy the advantages that I have here.


We all need to slow down. Smell the flowers. Walk to the park. Take the scenic route. Stop saying, oh I can't do that because I need to do the laundry. It's laundry, it'll be there tomorrow. Life might not be.

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