You're Gonna Miss This...

I was listening to a great song today on my ipod. This is the chorus:

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days
hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now...
But you're gonna miss this.

I've been thinking a lot about the stages of my life lately. Periods in time (months or years) where I was living in certain places, or working certain jobs, or in certain relationships.

My life is made up of a long string of these stages. And each stage got me one step closer to where I am right now. I am very happy to be here, although, sometimes I would love to go back a stage or two or three. Just for a few days- for another taste of that time. Sometimes I miss the past stages in my life.

I miss the highschool stage: All that cafeteria banter- surrounded by the friends I rarely get to see now. I miss a time when the only things I seemed to worry about were passing the weekly math test and how to afford the outfits I saw in Teen magazine.

I miss the university stage: That sudden freedom. The crazy residence I lived in where nobody ever slept and everybody seemed to know everybody else's business. I miss my room-mate and that cute boy down the hall who looked a lot like Patrick Swayze circa Dirty Dancing. I dropped out after first year because I decided that my program was not for me. But oh the freedom! I miss the freedom.

I miss the next massively confusing stage of my life: My early twenties mid-life-crisis. When I cried to my Mom on the phone every other night because I didn't know what to do with my life. When I couldn't recognize what I was good at. I couldn't figure out what to do next. I was stuck. It was horrible... but it was necessary. I know that now. I miss not knowing where my life would take me next. The un-known was exciting.

I miss my 4 years in London: Living with one of my best girlfriends. I miss spending hours in our living-room together talking about life. I miss dating. I miss all those first kisses and walks through the park and great get-to-know-you coffees. I miss the moments that made my heart flutter. I even miss the moments that made my heart break. I miss patio bars on Richmond Street.

I miss my first year in Australia: Meeting Chris again after nearly 5 years of emailing back and forth. I miss realizing that he was going to be my future husband. Travelling around a country I wanted to see since I was 9 years-old. Petting kangaroos and going on long road trips. I miss my engagement night. I miss all those happy tears.

I miss my recent journey in Melbourne to get through photography school. I miss all the frustrating moments where I doubted myself. And all the wonderful moments where I succeeded. I miss all my crazy class-mates who each have their own style and strength. I miss long sessions in the studio and the dark-room.

At the moment- I am working to identify all of the wonderful things about this current stage in my life. Sydney- starting a photography career- enjoying time with Chris and the dogs. I want to enjoy these things for all that they're worth. Because in another 3 months or so we will be heading into the next stage. We'll have a baby. We'll be parents. There will be amazing new aspects in life to embrace. But there will no doubt, be things I will miss. xo