Still So Much To Be Done

I spend many mornings here with all of you on WordPress and Jetpack. After my morning meditation and mindfulness practice, followed by my wildly competitive Wordle showdown, I settle into my favorite chair with a cup of coffee and read your beautifully crafted blogs. You make me laugh, think, cry, and occasionally nod my head so hard I nearly spill my coffee.

Most nights, though, sleep and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms. Anxiety likes to clock in for the overnight shift, leaving me restless and, if I’m being honest, a little down by morning. But by the time I hit the start button on the Jeep and begin my drive toward my little coastal work town, something shifts. The sea salt air sneaks in through the cracks of the day ahead and reminds me to exhale. Another sunrise. Another chance to begin again.

Lately, I’ve found myself wrestling with the realization that the light switch can be turned off at any moment.

This week on one of those sleepless nights, my mind wandered back to that awful childhood game of Musical Chairs. What sadist invented that game anyway? A bunch of kids circling chairs like tiny caffeinated bulls, waiting for the music to stop so they could dive for survival. If you didn’t find a seat, you were out. That’s it. Game over.

Honestly, that game should come with a lifetime supply of co-payments for future therapy sessions.

I’m a realist. I know the music eventually stops for all of us. That’s the game of life. It’s not death itself that unsettles me so much as the thought that I still have things left undone. Stories I want to write. Places I want to see. People I want to hug a little tighter. Some days I make peace with that truth. Other days, it taps me on the shoulder and whispers, “Are you sure you’re making the most of this?”

This morning, the answer arrived courtesy of Jimmy Buffett.

I pulled out of the driveway early and headed to the gym. No Shoes Radio played through the speakers. Then came “Last Mango in Paris.”

Always one of my favorites.

It’s a song about a colorful Key West character who’s done his share of living loudly and loving deeply, yet still understands there are adventures left to chase and dreams left to pursue. The chorus rolled in, familiar and comforting:

“And Jimmy, there’s still so much to be done.”

The workout ended. I was drenched. My watch informed me that I’d burned 676 calories in 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 45 seconds. Despite feeling like a wet noodle that had been run through a spin cycle, I smiled climbing back into the Jeep.

At my age, I don’t take any of this for granted. The ability to move my body. The privilege of showing up. The friends waiting beside me at the gym. The coffee waiting at home. The ridiculous concern that my sleepless night might somehow ruin pool opening day at Chez Kiki.

Ninety minutes earlier, I’d been carrying the weight of all my worries. Now, I was ready to tackle the rest of the day.

Another cup of coffee. A Zero Sugar Gatorade. This blog. Tiny sparks, perhaps, but enough to light the way forward.

The music hasn’t stopped yet.

So I’ll keep reading your words each morning. I’ll keep singing Buffett songs in the Jeep. I’ll keep sweating through workouts, opening the pool, loving my people, and writing these stories while I still can. And every once in a while, when fear tries to convince me that time is running out, I’ll answer it the only way I know how.

“And Kiki… there’s still so much to be done.”

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Author: KikiFikar

Kiki Fikar is a native New Yorker who is passionate about taking the day to day life we all experience and sharing it in her tales from Suburbia. She will often be found at the gym, writing snippets each day for future story lines, listening to her two children create their lives, and building the perfect beachfront home and writing retreat in her mind.

52 thoughts on “Still So Much To Be Done”

  1. That’s such a great description of the morning routines you’re doing 👍 I especially like your gym part when you’re working out. Lots of sweat, but our body, when we work out, becomes stronger.

    Me too, I usually read awesome blogs I follow in the morning, followed by tech news, then go work on my projects.

    In case you missed, this week, I finished my blog redesign project, and it’s now ready! I felt that the older design needed more work, especially on responsive design. Let me know your feedback about the redesign.

    …and enjoy your awesome weekend! ☺️

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Maybe the music doesn’t stop, maybe we just start listening to a new radio station..

    Just a thought,

    wonderful blog post full of stories we can all relate to.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. You’re most welcome my friend ☺️

    Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I appreciate it. That’s my passion ☺️

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Your post really resonated with me. I love how you found comfort and perspective in something as simple as a song on a morning drive. It reminded me that even when anxiety and uncertainty feel overwhelming, there are still so many small joys and meaningful moments worth showing up for. Your words are a beautiful reminder to keep moving forward, keep creating, and keep appreciating the people and experiences that make life rich. Thank you for sharing that perspective.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. I know what you mean. I cannot imagine the mental reckoning that goes through someone’s head when they KNOW for certain some circumstance is about to end their lives.

    I don’t know…to be honest. there are no words….I just don’t know 😐 Mike

    Liked by 1 person

  10. So beautifully said. At my age, I find myself aware of every single day, and the things that are out of my control. But there’s a Buffet song for that, too–Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On. (In my opinion, there’s a Buffet song for just about every emotion and circumstance).

    Liked by 2 people

  13. I love that one too. There are a million of his songs that just touch every aspect of life. I ran an errand before and stopped to get a smoothie for lunch. When I got in the car Bubbles Up by Jimmy came on and I found myself bawling by the time I got to the first traffic light.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I’m glad and I promise. Stay tuned and I’ll provide away. Hopefully one of my pieces creates a magically footprint on the sands of life. Thank you for always sharing beautiful and life felt work and for being amazing. You rock!!!!!!

    Liked by 2 people

  20. You’re not alone. Bubbles Up gets me every time. I’ve had the privilege of singing several of Jimmy’s songs, and Bubbles Up is one I’d love to do, but not sure I could get through it.

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Oh I am learning about you. You sing too? You are amazing!! He was beyond legendary in my eyes. I can’t get enough of anything he did – music – life’s accomplishments etc. he’s fascinating.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. I feel like I’ve been on my own emotional roller coaster, and a lot of mornings I’m sitting in that same tension you described, where life keeps moving, but my heart is still trying to catch up.

    For me, my music is often on pause. And when I do hit play, it’s usually indie music or Christian music. Some people might wonder why, if I’m already struggling or feeling low, I would listen to something that sounds sad or heavy. But it’s simple. I can relate to it. There’s something honest in it.

    And by the end of the song, I realize I’m still here. The music didn’t stop on me. I didn’t lose my seat. I made it through the song.

    And even when it feels like life is like that game of musical chairs you mentioned, where the music could stop at any moment, I’m learning that I’m not just scrambling for a seat. I’m being held through it.

    When it’s all said and done, I believe God is the One who kept the music going long enough for me to make it through what I thought would take me out. And somehow, I’m still standing when the song ends.

    I hope that makes sense with what you wrote.

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Wow, this was written so lovely, and it really resonated with me. I have learned that regardless of one’s age, it is easy to question how we are living our life. I often wonder if I will have regrets at the end for something I never did. Of course, there will always be things left undone. But the best solution to limit regrets is to just live your life. Enjoy the little things—like family and Jimmy Buffett. And it sounds like you are doing a great job of that!

    Liked by 3 people

  32. It makes perfect sense my friend! Perfect sense! Music resonates with us for all different reasons. The lyrics can transform your life. Sometimes you don’t hear them or feel them until you are ready to. This is why the indie or Christian music reaches you in that way.

    Maybe God is a DJ too! ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

  38. Crikey! 😀😊😎 I had forgotten how utterly alike we are! I took the jeep over to the self-wash place today to spray off the mud I got 4-wheeling middle kid through the NC woods. On the way, I had Jimmy B playing and I sang along. I’m trying to get my VO2max up and the ol’ bod is not digging these uphill runs 😂

    I’ve also been thinking about lights out, and I love the musical chairs metaphor. I’ve been watching The Pitt and have become uncomfortably aware of just how much can go wrong. Someone comes in with a cut and dizziness and next thing, they’re getting zapped with paddles and intubated. Ugh.

    Your writing is so fresh and creative… it’s a pleasure to read. I’m glad we’re WP buds 😎❤️

    Liked by 3 people

  40. We are lucky to be in each others paths and each others fans! You know I just love your work!!

    I’m obsessed with my VO2 max numbers! I actually downloaded my May numbers. lol

    I’m due for a Jeep wash. This Long Island pollen is turning everything green!

    Liked by 3 people

  46. Well, after last night, there is no way that the Spurs are going to win three games in a row unless Brunson gets injured and can’t play the rest of the series, and we don’t want that, of course.

    Liked by 1 person

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