Anna Quindlen quote.

this is a great quote.
I think many of us feel this way and don't even know it!

Yes, this makes sense, what's the point of capturing life if we don't experience it ourselves to the fullest in that very moment. I'm sure we've all been caught up it in at one time or another. This reminds us to take a step back and rexamine our life and what is truly important..
Thanks Ali,
Paola

Such a wonderful quote. There are times when it dawns on me that I am not truly living in the moment... those days when I long for the day to be over for whatever reason. Rushing everything along. And then a wonderful little simple moment happens... and I think 'why would I ever want this day to end?' Thanks for the reminder.

Such a wonderful quote. There are times when it dawns on me that I am not truly living in the moment... those days when I long for the day to be over for whatever reason. Rushing everything along. And then a wonderful little simple moment happens... and I think 'why would I ever want this day to end?' Thanks for the reminder.

Wow. I've never heard of her, but the "getting a life" quote is really amazing. I have to print it out. THANKS!

Thank you! I was so sad when I didn't get a chance to write it down. Such a great quote!

I feel exactly like that all too often. My kids are 22, 20, 15, 13, and 9. When I look at Ryan (my oldest) I am continually amazed that suddenly (at least, it seems like suddenly), he is a grown man, graduated from college and ready to make his own way in the world. And yet I can still see, as if superimposed over his squared and stubble-covered jaw, my little two-year-old Sweetpea, who squatted in front of the flagpole at the park, pointing up in amazement at the "big fwak, blowin' inna wind"! I am thrilled, and yet I want to cry when I think that I, too, was often too rushed to enjoy the fullness of the present moment, his little hand in mine, or his chubby toddler arms thrown around me in a hug. I always used to say that we would not buy a video camera, because I wanted to live the moments rather than filming them. But now I realize that I did not do as good a job at that as I had wanted to, and that maybe a video clip or two would be nice to have. Sigh.

al- totally off the subject...but I was just thinking you should of had your iodine test by now ....I hope it went well...Take Care...Tanya

Her commencement speech from Villanova was emailed to me about 10 years ago & has become my north star...truly my guidance & reminder of how I want to live my life.

I agree so whole-heartedly about paying attention to life's moments, but we all let things get past us. I don't even have children, and sometimes, I'm just "blowin' and goin,'" as a former boss of mine (from Texas) used to say, that moments get past me, too. Wisdom like Ms. Quindlen's is meant to inspire us to savor moments in the future, not regret not doing more in the past. I keep this datebook, a Marjolein Bastin one from Hallmark, and writing in it every single day, just a few lines telling what I've done, really helps me keep in touch with all those days that pass so fast. Thanks, Ali, for re-posting this quote.
Melissa

What a great quote. It is so true. We just rush through our lives and we miss out on so much through doing this. This quote is a great reminder to me that I need to slow down and take time to savour every moment.

Ali
Thanks so much for the links. I read the "get a life" address. I wish I had heard that address earlier on in life. It is so true and such a powerful message. I have read quite a few of her novels and loved them but none of her non-fiction books. So I have treated my self to a selection this morning. Learning about woman who can aide me in my journey to figure out life was a great discovery today. Might just have to blog about this as well. Women need to discover their value in life, we all have so much to offer.
A grateful, Dalne

I LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing.

thanks so much for sharing this. it was exactly what i needed to hear.
many blessings to you, miss ali.
stephanie edens

We can probably all stand to slow down and absorb more of the details. Thanks.
Sue

I read this quote and thought how appropriate it was for most of my life... I am always elsewhere when it comes to living, when I should be just here! (here being about 99 days away from Christmas.... or is that not living in the moment?)

All I can say is I'd give a million dollars if my mom had journaled my early years to go with the pictures because now she's gone and I can't ask her questions :(
Kip

Wonderful quote Ali, thanks. I clicked the link to the commencement address at Villanova you fondly referred to. I believe that is something I need to read frequently, it made me think and made me cry a little... it is so easy to get off the track of truely tasting life every day. priceless reminder. tena

What a poignant quote. I truly try to live in the moment, and I DO realize how fast everything is happening, how quickly my kids are growing up . . . but even though I try to live in the moment, I have found that I cannot slow things down. I still feel this sense of regret, even though I am aware of the moment. Maybe I am too aware -- I love how things are now, while they are little, and I realize that this period in life is coming to an end. Oh, I know that there will be new beginnings, but things are pretty good right now. Wish I could prolong the little moments we share, before they go spreading their wings. :-)

thanks Ali, for reminding me of such great quotes, I've read some of them before, but never had a chance to save them. they are wonderful.
keep up your great blog :)
melanie..x

I printed off her Vilanova speech for my high school students. Thanks.
Sue

Hi Ali:
First and foremost, I just want to say how much I enjoy your work and your website. I check it daily.
I've never commented before, but I just wanted to say how much I loved this quote, and the speeches. I am currently at home recovering from an ectopic pregnancy which required emergency surgery, and have been feeling extremely down. My situation and these speeches have helped me to put some thing into persepctive. I have been worried about how my work, and others are goint to react, but I realize that it really doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is my family. So thank you. Fate must have brought you to post this at a time that I really needed it.
Thanks Again
Tracey

Ali, thanks for including my alma mater in your list! I attended that commencement at Colgate in 2003, to see a close friend walk across the stage - at least, that's what I told people. Only my mom knew the truth, which was that I really wanted to see Anna Quindlen speak! Interestingly, I can't remember who gave our commencement speech back in 2001....

Hey, Ali...totally unrelated, but did you know that Jenny McCarthy's got a new book out about her son, Evan, who has autism? I heard about it through my weekly email from B&N. Thought you might be interested.
Melissa

awesome links!! as always, thanks for sharing