One of Those Moments
(Craig David – Once In a Lifetime)

mo•ment n.
1. A brief, indefinite interval of time.
2. A specific point in time, especially the present time: He is not here at the moment.
3. A particular period of importance, influence, or significance in a series of events or developments: a great moment in history; waiting for her big moment.
4. Outstanding significance or value; importance: a discovery of great moment.
5. A brief period of time that is characterized by a quality, such as excellence, suitability, or distinction: a lackluster performance that nevertheless had its moments.

A moment to me is a period of time where an event/series of events is more than the sum of its parts. Going to the gas station and filling up your tank is merely an event. Going to the gas station and filling up your tank for your first road trip with the woman of your dreams is a moment. Drinking at the bar on a Friday night is an event. Drinking at the bar on a Friday night with friends and realizing that 20 years has passed and they’re still an intricate part of your life is a moment. Getting dumped by a girl you held hands with in grade 5 is an event. Getting dumped on your wedding day is a moment.

You can always tell a moment by the realization of its significance. In the case of good moments, the significance is blatant bliss. All your food tastes better. The air you breathe is richer. You have mental clarity like you’ve never had before. In the case of bad moments, the significance is in the lesson learned. You swear you’d never date a girl like that again. You swear you wouldn’t let people walk all over you again. You swear you’d spend more time with your kids than your parents spent with you. Bad moments are character defining. Your decisions down the road will be dictated by these moments, for better or for worse.

I live for moments; even the bad ones. The rest of my life is just filler. Sure I could do without the mind numbing bad moments but to some extent, those make the good moments even sweeter. How great would your life be if you just increase your ratio of moments:filler?