A week with every age in one house, and the reminder I didn’t know I needed
I just got back from spring break, and I can’t stop thinking about it. There were 2 people in their 50s, 4 of us in our 40s, 2 in their 20s, 4 kids about to graduate high school, one 15-year-old, and a 1-year-old, all in the same house.
It was loud, chaotic, fun, and honestly one of those weeks you wish you could freeze for a second. There was a lot of laughing, a lot of laying in the sun, daily iced coffees and iced matchas, boat days, jet skis, music playing in the background, people coming and going, and lots of walking, cards, beach and pool days. Nothing about it was over the top or perfectly planned. It was just life, unfolding in real time.
What kept hitting me throughout the week had nothing to do with what we were doing, it was where everyone is in life right now. Four kids are about to graduate high school, one man is about to retire. Some of us are deep in midlife, juggling everything that comes with it, while others are stepping into a completely different season. Everyone in the same space, sitting around the same table, living completely different timelines at the same time, it made me stop for a second. There’s something about seeing it all together like that makes time feel very real. You’re in your day to day, doing what you do, moving through your routines, and then suddenly you look around and realize how much has shifted. The saying, “time is a thief” and “the days are long, but the years are short.” It’s so true. I always get sad after vacations, the week slows down and I get to spend it with my family and kids.
As a mom, that part lands in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’re in it. You’re watching your kids grow up right in front of you while also trying to hold onto moments that feel like they’re moving faster than you want them to. There’s pride, excitement, gratitude, and also that feeling of not being fully ready for what’s next.
Somewhere in the middle of all of it is you, trying to take care of yourself, stay present, and not rush through everything just to get to the next thing.
Time away, in sunshine, with family felt perfect, it felt really good. It felt good in a way that had nothing to do with productivity or routines or doing things the “right” way. It felt good simply being there, being with people, laughing, talking, sitting around without needing anything else. Not a to do list, nothing to check off, no multitasking, no bio-hacking, no habit stacking.
That’s the part that stayed with me. It’s easy to get caught up in doing everything right. Eating right, working out, staying on track, being productive, checking all the boxes, optimizing, multitasking, habit stacking. It’s also easy to miss the fact that life is happening in the middle of all of that.
Routines matter, but so does being able to step out of them and actually feel your life while you’re in it. Coming home, I noticed how quickly everything tries to speed back up. The pace, the pressure, the mental list of what needs to get done. That shift happens fast. It made me think about how many of us don’t actually know how to slow down, even when we have the chance. Rest is one thing, letting your body actually feel rested is something completely different.
That’s something I’ve been sitting with, especially with how much I hear from women who feel like they are doing everything right and still feel overwhelmed or off. I’m going to share more about that this week, especially around stress, overwhelm, and what actually helps your nervous system settle in a real, sustainable way on my podcast.
For now, this is what I keep coming back to. Time is moving, life is changing, these moments matter more than we think, even the simple little ones. Don’t blink….. Ferris Bueller said it best, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Nikki Lanigan
Nikki Lanigan is a yoga, HIIT, and Barre instructor, she is also a Holistic Health Coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Nikki is trained in Yoga Shred, Yoga Psychology, meditation, chakra balancing, and EFT/Tapping. She has done trainings with Sadie Nardini and Ashley Turner. She got her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017 at the Carrie Treister School Of Yoga. Nikki takes a holistic view of health, helping her students and clients reach a place of self-love not just through movement, but with mindset and lifestyle guidance as well. Nikki is also show prep writer for The McVay Media Show Prep and host of the podcast Fit, Fun, and Frazzled. Connect with Nikki on Instagram. www.instagram.com/nikkilanigan.yogaandwellness www.instagram.com/fitfunandfrazzledpodcast
