Hmmm...interesting because now you have me feeling OPPOSITE from how you had me feeling on the day you talked about the empty box. I tend to say yes to everything...bring it on, I'll do my best, glean what I can from the experience and move on. After you talked about the empty box concept I've become more aware of when I'm just saying yes because I just want the experience or feel like I "need" to say yes and I say no to save my energy for the boxes that matter.

Kids don't care how full their boxes are they just fly from one box to another with reckless abandon but in the end they have more boxes that have SOMETHING in them than adults have that are full.

I don't know maybe this is too philosophical for 6am. I'll think more and come back later once I have the benefit of others comments.

On a lighter note...I LOVE Easter Egg Hunts! It was so much fun taking Lily to an egg hunt on Saturday and seeing her strategy (she actually did mull over which eggs to pick up rather than just grabbing them up like most kids). I had to convince her to just pick them all up. She wanted a pink one, a flowered one, an orange one...

I think of these two posts differently.

Maybe some will say I'm still too young to have lost my zest for new experiences, but I don't find myself shying away from many opportunities or experiences. There have been times when I felt faaaaar out of my comfort zone (taking a pole dancing class with friends to celebrate a friend's 25th birthday), but it's one new experience in my pocket.

For me, the box is in regards to longer-term commitments on my part. For example, choosing not to apply to be a facilitator at a summer leadership conference because I want to focus on being the chair of RA Training for the summer. It's about knowing when to say "yes". The eggs are more about one-time or short term experiences that we shy away from because, like Claudia said, we're cynical, out of our comfort zone, or just not willing to live like a child. I like to think that I do a good job of going after new experiences. I always say I will try something once.

Funny thing about the Easter Egg hunt is that I just finished hiding eggs around my office suite for my RAs to find later today. I'm forcing them to remember what it's like to be kids!

To rid life of the cynacism we collect as we age is a daily battle. I would like to collect/participate in experiences where I am making a difference. Engaging in others lives and impacting each other in unique ways. I want to be less judgemental and more open and less materialistic in life.

Easter Egg hunts are magical because they remind us of childhood and the possibilities that once existed. Holidays bring out our creativity and willingness to suspend disbelief. Perhaps in some ways Christmas is such an exciting and magical time, because for 31 days we get to believe and surround ourself with imagination and wonder. An event as simple as an Easter Egg Hunt challenges us to step outside the confines of life and live life. Yes. hard to believe that a colored plastic egg has so much power huh?
Memories are so powerful and nothing brings them to life like a tradition, which helps us remember those who have passed, and those we love.

So much going on today! How wonderful to not be the first one to post.

What eggsperiences do I want to collect? I want to savor and not wish away my boys childhood. I want to savor the dating experience and not feel like it is a job. I want to savor the experience of growing old myself.

Word of the day: Savor. :)

Claudia, I think you're right. You have to find the balance of saying no to the boxes so that you can experience more of the egg hunt. I don't know that I collected more experiences as a kid because I was so brutally shy. Painfully shy. I know I participated in egg hunts, etc. but I do remember being very selfconscious. Thankfully I've outgrown the shyness on most days and I really do think everyday I see more possibility and positivity in what is to come and be.

Maybe it's just all the self-help books I've read in the last 6 months! :)

Keep your eye on the prize! That is what my Dad would say about the prize egg. The prize egg always had a one dollar bill in it. Fun memorizes that we still do to this day with our children. Egg hunts (being in the moment, being present) are fun. They allow you to forget all the "stuff" that cloud our minds. I am a work in progress but I must remember that our girls are looking at me as a role model. I want to be present and like Cheryl said "Savor" the moments. As I was getting my coffee this morning I had a short conversation with the woman in front of me. She said "My son is graduating this year. I can't believe it." She then asked me if I had children. I said " Yes, two girls, 6 and 5". Then she said "Don't blink." I heard her loud and clear. I am soaking them up. Make some memories and enjoy the hunt.

HA! Yes, Claudia! Being a member of House of Shine ABSOLUTELY does have an influence on my sense of possibility and positivity!!! :)

Okay, feeling better about how the two concepts can co-exist...I like the idea of saying NO to the boxes so we leave ourselves time for the egghunt.
I LOVE experiencing things through the eyes of my girls. I think that is how we can stay in touch with the wonder of the world. EVERYTHING is magical when seen through the eyes of a child. Yesterday we had hail at our house and although typically adults would see this as horrible I took the time to walk out onto our covered back porch with Lily to let her watch this natural wonder...ICE falling from the sky when it was 90 degrees outside. It was MAGICAL!!! She was excited beyond belief and when the hail let up I let her run out and pick up some pieces.
I think it goes back to letting ourselves enjoy how magical life really is and how these sweet little moments are present everyday and not just at the holidays!
Also the egghunts, the magical moments (at least in my experience) are the things that cost the least.

I love the idea of choosing empty boxes wisely so you have time to hunt for eggs. That's genius! I find myself spending less time away from my kids all the time. I used to always be the one to volunteer for a night event, show up on a weekend - but now I am more likely to be found taking a few hours off to go to a school event or you can find me chasing my two youngest at the oldest's baseball games.

I think the competition is the exciting part of an Easter egg hunt. Who can get the most eggs. :) In fact, I think it's fun to watch the kids grow into their competitive nature. When they are young (1-2), just getting one or two eggs is an accomplishment and we would find ourselves having to ease the boys along to show them that there were more eggs hidden. Now we have to hold back the older two so that Cooper has at least 1 or 2 to find!