Kayden Anderson

Something that’s been on my mind lately is ACCepting and appreciating life’s mundane moments. It’s easy to overlook things we experience daily and take for granted that we’ll see them tomorrow.

Growing up in a lake town during the summer truly is like nothing else. People flock to my hometown to visit our lake—camp, tube, ski and try out local restaurants on the water. I never doubt my love for the season, but I’ve had two decades of it, and it has become normal to me.

My summer routine has been continuous. I wake up, drink my coffee, have quiet time, eat lunch/breakfast, exercise, complete my to-do list, eat dinner, go for a walk/drive (not every day), watch TV/hang out with family, shower, unwind and sleep.

This schedule is not a joke. I have literally done the same thing every day this summer. I’m not complaining, but I get caught up in counting down the days until I move back to college and don’t appreciate where my feet are.

My small town has a fireworks show at the football field every year. The whole city comes out and waits patiently for the sun to sleep and the fireworks to breathe.

This event was a prime social opportunity in middle and high school. It was time to dress cute and have a midsummer catch-up with friends. Now, I was anxious! My ripped jean shorts and tube tops had been put to rest, and there I was in a matching sweat set and OU cap. My friends had retired to seats instead of standing together or didn’t even attend anymore.

I found myself willing the show to start because I was so anxious to see people I never see during the school year. I sat next to my parents, sister, brother-in-law, three-year-old niece and two-year-old nephew.

Kids played on the field. I watched as little boys played catch and little girls ran around. My niece walked behind her dad, carrying her gymnast Barbie doll, and my nephew ran to them. Teenage girls socialized like I did only years before and patiently awaited their after-show plans to commence.

When did I stop being them and become me? When did I stop looking forward to the joy of fireworks?

When the show finally began, we laughed as my niece became overjoyed with the show. She didn’t want to leave.

May we always remember how incredible the mundane moments are. May we never forget what a blessing it is for our night sky to light up and to be surrounded by the people who knew us when we crowded around with our tube-topped friends and even when we carried gymnast barbies.

“I love this place!” Charlie Kate exclaimed. And I do, too.

Keep living the dream,

Kayden