What is Love?

I liked the movie. It got me thinking. I could really feel Shrek's pain. The same old thing happening again and again. Same routine. Groundhog day scenario. The rut of life, of raising a family. The frustration and anger building. Poor Shrek. He needed to learn to placate himself-self soothe.

I'm sure if the story were written from Fiona's perspective there would have been times and moments her emotions went that way too. That's just the way it is. That's the way we are. Like pendulums. Our lives. Our emotions. Where we're at in our lives, in our jobs. Although she did indicate that she had come to terms with the whole 'rut' thing when she said told Shrek he had everything he wanted: a wife who loved him, a family, three children.

I'm speaking of dreams and aspirations we have. What we want in life, from life, throughout life; these are our dreams. They are dreams we feel we can and will realize. Which is probably true (if they're realistic and attainable-I'll never have a super hero dog like Bolt or Underdog-that would be unrealistic).

There-the pendulum is all the way to the left. Now let's look at the pendulum on the opposite side, for balance. Reality says we can't buy our way into having all our dreams, all at once, all right now. Heaven knows we've tried-but it just doesn't work. Some things require time and patience. A lot of time and a LOT more patience.

Somewhere in my young motherhood years I came to this realization through the Spirit. I was taught, reminded, that this too shall pass. The kids will grow up. I won't be changing diapers on them when they're in their teens. I won't be wiping their noses when they're in their twenties. They will grow up and they will go away. They will move on into their own lives leaving me behind in the dust. That's the Plan. That's the way it's supposed to be. And then you have the time and means to do the things you thought you wanted to do early on in life. But now you find you want to do different things-you value things differently-hence the change. The pendulum comes centered and you find peace. Instead of running to Disneyland every chance you get-you grab a grandchild and go places and do things with them.

So Shrek, and all you Shrek's out there, know this: It won't be like this for long.

Check it out on Youtube:

Darius Rucker,

It Won't Be Like This for Long

He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night
Layin’ there in bed listenin’
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It gonna be OK

It won’t be like this for long
One day soon we'll look back laughin’
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
‘Cause it won't be like this for long

Four years later ‘bout 4:30
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says what can I do
She says now don't you worry
This’ll only last a week or two

It won’t be like this for long
One day soon you'll drop her off
And she won’t even know you're gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It won’t be like this for long

Some day soon she'll be a teenager
And at times he'll think she hates him
Then he'll walk her down the aisle
And he'll raise her veil
But right now she's up and cryin’
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her good night
And she says her prayers

He lays down there beside her
‘Til her eyes are finally closed
And just watchin’ her it breaks his heart
Cause he already knows

It won’t be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah, this phase is gonna fly by
So, he's tryin’ to hold on

‘Cause it won’t be like this for long

It won’t be like this for long