Don’t Blink

Courtesy of Pixabay.com

“Life Goes By In A Blink Of An Eye. Appreciate The Moments.” ~ABINASH

Those who read my work know that music has always been a kind of therapy for me. It energizes, calms, brings me to a place of pondering, and teaches me about life. Depending on my mood, I play the music that feeds me at the time.

The other morning, after a long walk in the woods, I was making breakfast and listening to music in a more reflective genre.

Then, Kenny Chesney’s “Don’t Blink” came on…

These are the lyrics to Kenny’s song…
Don’t Blink. By Kenny Chesney

I turned on the evening news

Saw an old man being interviewed

Turning a hundred and two today

Asked him what’s the secret to life
He looked up from his old pipe

Laughed and said all I can say is

Don’t blink, just like that, you’re six years old

And you take a nap. And you wake up, and you’re twenty-five
Then your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don’t blink, you just might miss your babies 

Growing like mine did, turning into moms and dads

Next thing you know, your better half of fifty years is 

there in bed, and you’re praying God takes you instead

Trust me, friend, a hundred years go faster than you think

So, don’t blink

I was glued to my TV when it looked like he looked at me

And said best start putting first things first
’Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand

You can’t flip it over and start again

Take every breath God gives you for what it’s worth.

So, don’t blink

So, I’ve been trying to slow it down

I’ve been trying to take it in
In this here today gone tomorrow world we’re living in

So don’t blink.

Written by: Casey Beathard, Chris Wallin
Sang by Kenny Chesney

🎼 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎼 🎶

I attended a Catholic school for the first two years, where uniforms were required. My siblings and I went to public school when I started third grade, and my mom took us all out to buy new clothes. On my first day, I was so excited to wear my new dress and patent-leather shoes that I quietly got up when it was still dark and got ready for school.

I sat on the couch with my new dress neatly on, a new lunch box sitting by my side, and waited. When Mom walked out of her room, she was surprised to see me sitting there quietly with all my school supplies ready to go.

“Terry, what are you doing up?” — she whispered.

I whispered back, “Waiting to go to school, Mom. I’m a bit nervous and excited.”

She smiled and said it was only 5:30 and that school didn’t start for 4 hours, so I should go back to bed and rest for the big day.

Don’t Blink.

When the kids were babies, they were, “Aww, sooo adorable.

When they got to be school age, there were many times of wiping the sweat off my brow and staying up until after midnight making cupcakes, or cookies; after a child remembered, as I kissed him good night, that he had forgotten to tell me he had volunteered me to make them for the next day.

Don’t Blink.

Then, when they became teenagers… they were not so adorable.

Picture this:

Walking into the kitchen one morning, my middle son, high school age with attitude, was making eggs over the stove.

In a cheery voice, I said, “Good Morning, Hon!”

Without him looking up, he said gruffly, “MOM! Why do you have to make conversation with me first thing in the morning?!”😳

I quietly answered, “Hon, all I said was good morning.”

Still not looking up, he says, “That’s a start of a conversation, not interested.”

Frustrated, as I walked by him, I noticed that he had jeans on, if one could say they were on, with the waist of the pants hanging almost under his tush.🙄

I calmly said, “Well, pull your pants up, please. Maybe a belt would help.”

Still, without looking up (I mean, how long does it take to make a couple of eggs?), he gently jumped up and down once, and they fell to the ground.

Me…GURRRRRRRRRRRR. Mental slap behind his head as I walked past.

Don’t Blink.

After graduating from high school, he moved away to a college in Sacramento. I saw him only during the holidays in those years. Towards the end of his final year, we met at a mutual friend’s house for dinner. I was distant from the door but could see him being welcomed in.

I saw this handsome young man, hair combed, shirt pressed and tucked in…into…slacks?…that fit perfectly and with a…a…belt!! 😳 What the….!

This is MY SON??

Tears started to bubble up on their own. He was a young man! When did THIS happen?

He gave me an amazing, tight hug when we saw each other, which brought me back to the room in joy.

During dinner, he was genuinely polite, speaking knowledgeably and respectfully. I had to keep blinking and pinching myself to realize that he had grown up.

That aggravating teenager, now a hard-working neurologist as chief of staff for two hospitals, has a teenager getting ready to go to college and another right behind her. He is one of the kindest and most caring people you would ever want to meet.💖

Don’t Blink.

The surprising changes from boys to men happened with all of my boys at different times, and blinking is something I did pretty regularly, especially when they weren’t home for months.

My two oldest sons were always mischievous. I remember working at a carnival booth with the Youth Group to raise money. The twins were done and went to get on some rides. About an hour later, I saw one of them running past the booth as if he was being chased and yelled, “Hi, Mom.” And then, the other ran past, waving to me with a few friends not far behind him.

Not even a second later, three policemen were running just as fast to catch up with them. Apparently, a misunderstanding between some teens from another school escalated, and it wasn’t pretty. I took a breath, rolled my eyes, and said to the woman next to me, “Here we go again.”🙄

Years later, when the second oldest received an honorable discharge from the Air Force and married, he held his first child right after birth. His tears spoke volumes about how he had matured and how he would love and protect this child with all his heart.

Don’t Blink.

When my youngest son joined the Peace Corps after college and served in Madagascar for 2 years, it was life-changing for him. The experience of living in a small village with no electricity or running water changed this boy from feeling entitled and having an attitude to someone with a deep appreciation for life. He could not wait to step out and change the world with compassion, humility, and a zest for experiences. And he did.

In the beginning, he helped small businesses succeed and is now an oncology nurse at City of Hope, working diligently to give his gifts of empathy, compassion, and love to those in need. I was in awe of who he had become.

Don’t Blink.

The Takeaway

You see, I believe there is a movie projector that lives in our hearts. It collects the stories from our lives and waits patiently for the opportunity to be clicked back on, helping us feel the abundance of those experiences again.

It is mind-blowing to see my oldest now fifty and the other boys not too far behind, especially when I look into their eyes and the movie projector starts to play again in fast motion from the days of their youth.

We have rare and beautiful treasures flowing through our lives all the time that will become memories before we can even blink. So, if we can slow down, take it all in, and take every breath we are given for what it’s worth, as Kenny expresses through his song, we can capture these moments in full awareness of the gifts we have been given.🦋

Thought to ponder:
What treasures have been flowing through your lives and being captured in your movie projector?

Don’t Blink.

Berend van Rossum/ Unsplash.com

Kenny Chesney’s video that will raise your heart up in remembrance. Don’t Blink.

©2026Terry Pottinger