One of the highlights of the year where I live in northern Ohio was the unique opportunity to see a full solar eclipse. For months, people talked about what it would be like, how many tourists might come for the big event, and most importantly, whether or not the cloudy days that dominate the area in the springtime would mar the experience. Locals and tourists alike planned their entire day or longer around that small window of time when the moon would cover the sun and send us into a phenomenal celestial show.
Why all the buildup? Given we won’t see another total solar eclipse in this area for decades, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Unless you chose to just watch it on television, there was no rewinding or pausing; if you missed it, you missed it. While some may be able to chase future eclipses elsewhere around the world, this was a one and done opportunity that we couldn’t expect to repeat.
Around that time and in the months since then, I’ve reflected on the perspective we have on matters when we know we won’t get a redo. We put time, energy, and often money toward ensuring that nothing is missed that could taint it for us. And hopefully, all of that effort translates into appreciation for the event itself, as we ought to soak it up while we have it.
In reality, we experience plenty of once-in-a-lifetime occasions through the years, but we might not realize it as it’s happening. Life can be so repetitive that we’re used to getting another chance to do something we enjoy, usually because it’s a matter of taking the opportunity to do it. If we enjoy a certain vacation, we can typically go back to the same location and make many of the same stops year after year, provided our circumstances will allow it. Though the purpose of this post isn’t to focus on the uncertainty of life and how we never know which day could be our last, that fact alone should make us pause and appreciate that another chance to do something is never promised.
Aside from that, various circumstances beyond our control may prevent us from being able to repeat an experience. Despite popular sayings, we aren’t altogether masters of our own destiny, as much of what we do is dependent to some degree on others. Just in the avenue of a career, we may be committed to giving our all to a company, but they could still go under or need to lay us off. Even in less severe situations, things fall through, sometimes out of nobody’s fault.
Should these realities make us pessimistic, doubtful that we’ll ever get another chance to repeat something special? Not at all. Rather, such realizations can help us treasure moments and eras in our life that much more. Instead of putting so much stock in next time, we can savor this time. We don’t necessarily have to view it as a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, but if it turns out to be, we can look back with fondness and the assurance that we didn’t take it for granted.
While life does have its natural never ever after’s, should we surrender to them all? Find out in my follow-up later this month.
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