I bet you can pull up a memory of a moment right now that makes you literally catch your breath. You know, one of those moments where you were filled with such joy, anguish, hope, sorrow, surprise, elation — whatever, a feeling so magnificent and enormous that you were only breathing in. Your body goes through changes — tiny hairs stand up, goose bumps rise and cool tingles wash through you and over you.
Those defining moments that stop you in your tracks. Give you hope or change you. Doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. How much money you have or don’t, we all have them.
Kodak created a huge and successful marketing campaign about moments back in the early 90s. Remember those commercials? Yes, they were a little corny, but c’mon, they tugged at you too if you can remember them. It so resonated with us that it became and is still part of our dialect and culture — “That’s a Kodak moment.” A little tagline that sums up all that humanness. “The moments of our lives.”
I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a place where you wonder what’s it all for? Am I just taking up space? It’s not a fun place to be, but at some point, something happens that makes you go forward, regain your footing and know that you have a purpose and that life is going to get better. Let’s face it, life’s not easy all the time. We go through enormous pain and change. We sometimes lose faith and hope, but that old saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” it’s true, isn’t it?
One of those moments for me was when I was in a dark place in my life. There was a point in my life where I felt so excruciatingly alone that it hurt, a physical ache that was constant. I was pretty messed up, for lack of a better definition.
Anyway, I sat on the stoop of a home that I wasn’t going to be in anymore. It was end of Fall and one of those cool, clear nights where stars filled up the sky and the moon was huge and bright. It lit everything up and the trees stood out like black relief against that gorgeous sapphire sky. Home didn’t feel like anywhere.
As I cursed at a God that I had serious doubts even existed, one of those things washed over me. I swear to you it was like my life was sliced in two. The before and after, as if that other me was gone and the new me was someone I didn’t know yet. It was one of those soul-wrenching, mind-blowing, tingling, there’s no going back moments that’s indescribable. Where you really think, God’s here. I’m not a religious person, more spiritual, but I felt that, that night and it was real. That little bud of hope. Clarity, where you know, without doubt, everything is going to be okay.
I’m not saying life became instantly rosy right after that, but that moment was a precious, bittersweet, scary, agonizing, joyous thing, if that makes sense. Sometimes those moments involve all kinds of emotions.
And then other ones…..
Having the glorious opportunity to hold two of my nieces and nephews in my arms hours after they were born. MOMENT.
Falling in love with my husband, it happens in an instant, when you fall. MOMENT.
Watching a loved one open her eyes after she’d been very ill and speak. MOMENT.
Many years ago, my then eight-year-old nephew putting his little hand on my face and saying, “I know you’re sad, but everything’s going to be okay cause all you need is love and you got that.” Out of the mouths of babes. MOMENT.
There’s so many others, very personal and life-changing that I can remember that still do that to me. Makes me catch my breath, fills me up with such feeling that tears come to my eyes, those tiny hairs stand up and tingles just wash all over me. Others make me laugh out loud.
That’s what makes life so affirming and wonderful — those kind of moments and the ones that we’ll remember when we come to the end of our lives and are ready to go from this place to the next.
Just imagine all the ones that are waiting to be born. Mind-blowing, huh?
Happy Monday everyone and I hope you have some lovely, incredible moments this week.
Brigitte's Banter 
I have just one word…..beautiful.
Posted by Fish Out of Water | September 10, 2012, 9:36 amFish, thank you so much. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 9:56 amAnother beautiful and profound post, courtesy… Brigitte. Thanks, love!
I think it’s a gift to be able to feel those moments so deeply. A real gift. So many people are walking around wounded, trying to distract themselves, hide, get to the finish line and just plain old, survive. It’s not lost on me the great blessing of recognizing and feeling life as it comes at you – the good and the bad. If we block the scary, painful moments then we’re also blocking the good ones, too. (I can understand the need and desire to do this.) It all falls under the Umbrella of what it means to be human. I think God made us sturdy enough to handle everything that comes our way. I personally think His love for us is incomprehensible.
Thanks, Brig, for encouraging us to feel, to recognize those moments, and celebrate them.
Posted by A Gripping Life | September 10, 2012, 9:57 amGrippy, thank you and I agree. You write things so eloquently and it makes me know that you truly received my words and understand them. And I do agree — God is so accepting, loving, benevolent and we can’t possibly understand the magnitude, because of our being human. But we have those moments where we do grasp the enormity of how precious life is — each moment — and so many things that we share as humans are the same.
I hope you have a wonderful week and thank you for YOUR beautiful and profound words. xxoo.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 10:49 amIn those MOMENTS, that’s your small still voice speaking to you…reminding you are Divine! xoxoM
Posted by Margarita | September 10, 2012, 10:30 amExactly Margarita! Thank you and I think you are Divine as well. xoxo.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 10:49 amTakes one to know one, darling. We ALL need to know one another better! 😉
Posted by Margarita | September 10, 2012, 10:51 amReading your words just now and being completely overwhelmed by a wave of happiness. MOMENT.
Posted by Honie Briggs | September 10, 2012, 10:42 amHonie, what a kind thing to say — you’re so wonderful and I’m so glad you experienced a wave of happiness. Makes me feel so good — MOMENT. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 10:50 amJust reading this,, I was back in my moments too!
Posted by nizzyis40 | September 10, 2012, 11:22 amHi Nizzy! And welcome, hope you’ll come back and share/have some more moments. 😉
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 11:35 amAs always, Brigitte, that was an inspirational post. Maybe that should have been my one word for you on my blog post today–inspirational–but honestly, quite a few great adjectivess came to my mind to describe you. I decided on open-minded, because you seem to give everybody and everything a chance. Without doing that, we miss out on so much of life.
Yes, those days of “what’s it all for?” really suck, and I’m sure we all have them. But then, as you say, a moment comes and wipes those thoughts away, at least until the next batch. 🙂
Posted by Carrie Rubin | September 10, 2012, 11:37 amCarrie, that’s so nice and thank you for saying that. We have to give everyone (within reason of course) a chance, right? That’s part of being human. And that you for saying I’m inspirational — that’s one of nicest adjectives I know. You’re great and glad you enjoyed the post, friend.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 11:42 amYour Monday musings always help get me in the right mindset for another week. In a good way. 🙂
Posted by Carrie Rubin | September 10, 2012, 11:54 amThat makes me so happy, Carrie. Thank you!
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 6:26 pmThis makes me think of zen. Your post definitely tapped on that idea. When we keep it zen, life’s more manageable, enjoyable in smaller increments.
Posted by Sword-chinned bitch | September 10, 2012, 11:38 amAmen to that Sister. It’s very difficult sometimes, but worth it and like everything worth having, it’s worth striving for. ;). xxoo
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 11:43 amThanks, Brigitte!
Posted by Les Petits Pas de Juls | September 10, 2012, 11:54 amHi Julie, my pleasure, dear one…thank you!
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 6:24 pmwhat an honest and lovely post – I can so relate
Posted by on thehomefrontandbeyond | September 10, 2012, 12:24 pmLou Ann, thank you so much.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 6:28 pmExactly the kind of post WE all need to start this new week.. It’s those “moments” which are hope that keep us tethered to this space..Thank you for the reminders and wishing you a grand new week!!
Posted by free penny press | September 10, 2012, 12:47 pmLynne, thank you for saying that. I hope you have a splendid week yourself, friend (and many, many lovely moments). 😉
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 6:27 pmOh B, this post is another beauty. Reading it is almost one of those moments in itself.
Posted by Madame Weebles | September 10, 2012, 1:27 pmWeebs! My dear friend — how I’ve missed you so much and what a wonderful thing to say. Thanks so much for stopping by and hope to see you very soon. xxoo.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 6:29 pmWow! Very uplifting. In all seriousness, I have those sort of moments pretty regularly. Sometimes they’re not even in my own life, but in others, or just something I witness or hear about. I may have said this here before, and if I have, forgive me, but I see life like a great big ocean of joy sprinkled with several tiny islands of pain. Life is replete with sorrows, after all, but they are dwarfed by its joys. Why else would we go on living?
Posted by Smaktakula | September 10, 2012, 4:25 pmSmak, thank you. I bet you do have plenty of them with your lovely wife and twins. And you’re right, life does have “tiny islands of pain” (how beautifully poetic of you, that’s why I dig your comments so much, you so deep — that’s a huge compliment, btw) but those wonderful epiphanies and moments make it soooooo sweet and why we DO go on.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 6:31 pmAmen, sister. Sometimes I don’t understand the significance of those moments until they are over, but you’re right, they are what we live for. Little known fact, my blog is called the Waiting because getting to those magical moments of clarity requires so much patience that being able to get through the wait is sometimes the most difficult thing I do.
Posted by The Waiting | September 10, 2012, 5:03 pmIsn’t that strange, but we always find out why and just how significant they are. I knew your blog had something to do with that plus when you kind of quote Tom Petty then I know just how great you are. :). Thank you, Emily.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 6:32 pmThis was absolutely beautiful! I loved that image of your eight-year-old nephew comforting you, what a sweet child!
Posted by mlatimerridley | September 10, 2012, 5:21 pmLatimer and Ridley, welcome and thank you so much!! Your blog looks so inviting and cool. And thank you for visiting and the follow. Hope you will stop by soon again.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 6:35 pmAn awesome post! I have had moments like that too. May your life be filled with many, many more. Hugs & stuff, Diana
Posted by dianasschwenk | September 10, 2012, 7:14 pmHi Diana, thank you! And I wish the same for you, my friend. xxoo
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 7:32 pmBeautifully said, Brigitte, and so true. The world can weigh so heavy on us at times, but then a simple smile or a few kind words can restore hope and faith. Another great Monday inspiration post. Even if I can’t get to them until evening, they’re good reminders for the rest of the week!
Posted by jmmcdowell | September 10, 2012, 7:39 pmHi J, thank you! I agree with you, but that’s what life is — ups and downs — it’s what we learn and how we grow from both. And I appreciate your taking the time to read and comment whenever you show up! Hope your Monday was great and the rest of the week even better.
Posted by Brigitte | September 10, 2012, 8:57 pm( i need the world to stop for a moment MOMENT) you are wonderful Brigitte. Lump in my throat kind of day and this was a timely read
Posted by unfetteredbs | September 10, 2012, 9:34 pmAudra, thank you dear friend. You are wonderful too!
Posted by Brigitte | September 11, 2012, 8:26 amLots of food for thought here! I definitely had a MOMENT a few weeks back when I suddenly felt like I was back in full groove, moving to the right rhythm of life (if that makes sense). I’m a dancer (or at least, I was) so I tend to think and compare things to bodily motion. When a moment happens, I feel like it’s the same as when your body suddenly is able to do choreography without you thinking about it and it becomes second nature. It’s a beautiful thing. Thanks for this week’s motivation, Brigitte. 🙂
Posted by lillianccc | September 10, 2012, 10:38 pmHi Lillian! So glad you had a wonderful moment. Seems to be happening with many these days. I’m glad you found the post interesting and if it’s motivating to you, then all the better. Take care, my friend and thanks so much.
Posted by Brigitte | September 11, 2012, 8:27 amLove, love, love this post! (Especially the “All you need is love and you got that” moment!) I’m heading out for a walk and am going to reflect on the recent moments in my life. Thank you, Brigitte.
Posted by Deliberately Delicious | September 10, 2012, 10:49 pmlove, love, love that you love it, Sally!! Hope you had a wonderful walk and that you have other great moments this week. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 11, 2012, 8:28 amdear B,
Very lovely♥
Thanks for the kind of post that washes over you like a cool breeze.
Love, L
xox
Posted by Carr Party of Five | September 11, 2012, 5:07 pmThanks, Lis. Glad you enjoyed, friend. xxoo
Posted by Brigitte | September 12, 2012, 9:20 amThat’s a beautiful post – and so true. I went thru a time where I’d wander around looking at people’s houses and wondering ‘are they happy? how can they be happy? why would anyone want to grow up?’ – darkest moments of my life- not even in the realm of ‘happy/unhappy’ – just a totally different place that you can’t understand unless you’ve been there. It’s good to know that we can climb out of that hole – and comforting to know that we are not alone in our deperation.
Posted by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher | September 13, 2012, 10:20 amHey Ruta! Welcome and thank you for you nice comment. Yes, the more I explore this wonderful blogging community, the more I realize what you just wrote: “comforting to know that we are not alone in our desperation.” Beautifully put and thank you for following me! I am now following you!! :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 13, 2012, 12:05 pmI think if we follow each other -we’ll never be truly lost.
Thanks for following me! I look forward to your posts.
Posted by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher | September 13, 2012, 12:11 pmI just had to re-read this. I love it. I needed to hear hope tonight. I need a falling moment.
Posted by reptilesintheicecream | September 17, 2012, 10:12 pmWell, that’s wonderful, Rep. Glad you were able to pull some hope from this, my friend. Be well.
Posted by Brigitte | September 18, 2012, 10:35 am