If I'd Stayed at My Desk...

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 Looking Up

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” - Psalm 19:1

I always chuckle a little inside whenever a new acquaintance learns what I do, or even with people who’ve known for a while, and the statement or question pops into conversation about being in busy season, getting ready for busy season, or being glad busy season is over depending on the time of year and proximity to April 15th.

I’ve been doing this tax thing for over 32 years. Busy season never ends – though there are peaks. Laura got so tired of being a tax widow that she finally joined me and got her EA license a few years ago.

Most people recognize April 15th. That’s “Tax Day” for typical John and Jane Doe Taxpayer. (I could bore you with the history of that particular date, but we’ll save that for another time.) 

The reality is that our personal schedules get the kibosh and our professional schedules peak each year around four dates: March 15th, April 15th, September 15th, and October 15th. No, Virginia, there is no “slow season.”

So, this past weekend, while y’all were enjoying the pre-fall weather and sunshine, I was glued to my two 4-monitor computer setups crunching through all the fun that complex partnership and S Corporation returns bring.

Fortunately, household duties and honey-dos don’t stop. And this time, the timing worked out wonderfully, as I stepped away from my desk to take care of a simple chore. If I had gone outside a little earlier or later, I would have missed this beautiful view of the crescent moon and Venus in the evening sky.

I tried shots with my cell phone and my Canon Rebel, using both my 18-55mm and my 75mm-105mm lenses. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my tripod, and this is the best shot out of a dozen or so, though it really doesn’t do justice to the live view.

Looking up doesn’t always require planning an outing or some grand adventure away from home. In my experience, most times it happens in the moment of living life and taking time to look up from your phone, your shoes, or your stress and worries.

This was one of those moments that would have been easily missed if I had stayed at my desk or didn’t bother to circle around to the front of the house to view the sunset. 

Those moments are there every day in your life. Grab them when you see them. 

Cheers.

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