Authoring Life's Precious Moments: A Lesson from NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly's book It. Goes. So. Fast.
In the whirlwind of our daily lives, it's easy to let precious moments slip through our fingers. Hell, it’s easy to let years slip by. As coaches, we repeatedly guide our clients back into the driver’s seat of their lives so they make the most of each fleeting day and year.
In her book, It. Goes. So. Fast., Mary Louise Kelly, the host of NPR’s All Things Considered, shares her poignant journey of authoring her oldest son's last year living at home before heading to college. We applaud her for pausing her busy life to recognize what mattered to her most at that moment: being present for her son James’ last year of high school, specifically attending his beloved soccer games. His games started at 4pm every day as did her live radio show with millions of listeners. Some people might accept that she could not be in two places at once, but Mary Louise did not. She authored a new schedule for herself for his soccer season.
To all of the parents facing the impending launch of their children, or anyone wanting to make the most of the current moment, follow Mary Louise’s lead. Figure out where you can author your life differently, based on what you want to capture or amplify in your life.
Can you adjust your working hours? Swap certain responsibilities with a coworker? Plan a special adventure with your children? What about signing up for a class you have always wanted to take? Imagine yourself as the author of your life, and take one action today and three actions this week that get you closer to the story you want to write.
Thanks Mary Louise, for the reminder of our capacity to shape our moments and script our narratives.
Mary Louise Kelly, author of It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs.
Photograph: Mike Morgan/NPR
Click HERE to read an excerpt from the book's Introduction.
Casey Seidenberg
is a Human Better EDU Program Leader and Executive Life Coach. She leads our popular Take Charge of Your Life course for Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers. She also works with graduate-level educators to Kindergarten teachers and everything in between. Email Casey at casey@humanbetteredu.org.
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