One year holds so much life.

For our family, the days and hours of laughter pile up quickly. Adventures arise in a trip to the playground, the supermarket, and our favorite breakfast stop for biscuits and biscuit sandwiches.

Sometimes it feels like a year has flown by.

Parts of my life do feel this way.

But, when I think back over all the ways Jakey has grown it seems like he’s a whole different kid now than last January. I have no more than to scroll through a year of photos to see his development. From toddling to running to jumping, climbing, throwing, kicking, and dancing around our living room like a maniac.

I bought my wife a book for Christmas by Sarah Ruhl. It’s called 100 Essays I Don’t Have Time to Write.

At the end of essay #1, On Interruptions, she says:

“I found that life intruding on writing was, in fact, life. And that, tempting as it may be for a writer who is also a parent, one must not think of life as an intrusion. At the end of the day, writing has very little to do with writing, and much to do with life. And life, by definition, is not an intrusion.”

Living and reveling in the present moments that are life is never more critical or more rewarding than when it comes to children. My son does this well. Legos, he’s all in. Trains, he is training and nothing will stand in his way. Same with bouncing on the trampoline, painting, or eating.

His lead is a solid one to follow. Our days and lives are best when I can live right in that moment, too.