I used to think the best of times Were something hindsight helped us see, Old photographs and memories Of how life used to be. We'd say, "Those were the good old days," When somehow they were gone— I never knew how much I'd missed While life was moving on. Then came a year I didn't choose, A hurt I couldn't mend, A thousand questions with no answers, A road without an end. And somewhere in the breaking Something opened up my eyes— The worst of times was teaching me To see the best of life. So I'll recognize the best of times While I'm still living them, I'll hold a little tighter To the moments I am in. I'll hear the laughter in the room, Feel the little hand in mine, Watch the sunset, take the picture, Stay a little longer every time. I won't wait until tomorrow To know what I had then— I'll recognize the best of times While I'm still living them. There may always be some empty chairs, Some faces that I miss, Some prayers I keep on praying, Some wounds I can't yet fix. But an empty chair can't take away The people gathered near, And I won't miss the ones I hold By counting who's not here. There are children at my table, There are grandkids down the hall, There are miles still left to travel, There are names that still will call. There's a hand beside me reaching For the hand that's always been— And I don't want to miss this life While wishing for what isn't. So I'll recognize the best of times While I'm still living them, I'll hold a little tighter To the moments I am in. I'll hear the laughter in the room, Feel the little hand in mine, Watch the sunset, take the picture, Stay a little longer every time. I won't wait until tomorrow To know what I had then— I'll recognize the best of times While I'm still living them. Maybe sorrow has a strange way Of showing what is true, Maybe losing what we counted on Reveals what carried through. Maybe darkness makes us notice Every tiny point of light, Maybe winter makes us grateful When the first green leaves arrive. And maybe hope is simply saying, "I don't know how this ends— But I won't postpone my happiness Until everything makes sense." So when we're sailing on the ocean, I'll stop and look around, At the faces of my family, At the joy inside that sound. When October paints New England, I'll watch those colors glow, I'll cheer the race in Marathon And treasure Ithaca before we go. I'll notice kitchen conversations, Ordinary afternoons, Little stories, inside laughter, Crowded cars and hotel rooms. Because someday these will be the days I would give anything to find— So I want to know they're beautiful While they're still mine. I will recognize the best of times While I'm still living them, I won't need an old photograph To tell me what they meant. I'll say, "This is one of those moments." I'll say, "Remember this." I'll let myself be fully here For every ordinary gift. There will still be prayers unanswered, There will still be empty chairs, But I won't let what's missing Make me miss who's really there. And someday when I'm looking back, I hope I'll smile and say, "I knew those were the good old days While I was living every day." It was the worst of times That somehow taught me when... I was living the best of times— And I knew it while I was living them.
