“That’s the problem these days. We’re all too busy, aren’t we? We work ourselves to the bone and for what? To find out one day that we may have caused ourselves to get sick? So then we end up spending the rest of our days fighting for our lives instead of being able to savor the present moment.” – Dean from Sandcastles
The Here and Now
Do you ever find yourself reliving the past and planning for the future more than living in the moment? The here and now is such a precious lot of time, yet, many of us tend to ignore it. A while ago, I was fortunate enough to meet a person who was completely aware of the present. She had an aura of happiness around her that was unlike anything I’ve felt before. She radiated with a burst of energy that actually gave me energy back!
Before meeting her, I seriously fretted way too much in worrying about my future and all the what-ifs of a lifetime that wasn’t even guaranteed to me. Caught up in this cycle of looking back on the past and peeking ahead toward the future, I neglected to enjoy the moment in front of me, the only moment guaranteed.
I walked away from that conversation with hope. Her answer made me think, and through my thinking, I began to focus. In this determined state of mind, I delved into a whole new set of experiences that flirted with my senses. My world suddenly blossomed into sweeter scents, more delicious tastes, prettier views and a more definitive sense of awareness. I was savoring the present, making the best of my life as it was gifted to me.
Living in the Moment
As I write this blog, I am reminded that outside the giant, sweeping busyness of life exists a peaceful nook where rest breathes focus into our cluttered lives. In our quest to pursue dreams and achieve goals, we often rush through life, from one event to another, missing the treasures that offer solace, like a leaf dancing on the waves of a gentle breeze or the curiosity playing on a dog’s perked ears as she sniffs the green grass at her paws.
These moments, these small miracles of life, are happening in the here and now. If we get caught up in the craze of the past and the what-ifs of our future, we miss out on the delicacy of the present moment and all its delicious innuendos.
Life circulates its energy around us at all times. It doesn’t wait for us to stop and recognize its actions. It simply evolves and stirs its mystery about with an artist’s finesse. Beauty thrives, miracles whisper their unfolding, mysteries tap their cleverness in joyful beats, and all of these wonders happen with or without our attention. To witness such beauty would seem an awe-inspiring opportunity, one we would never pass up if we were thoughtful of its existence. And yet, its essence is always present, always within our reach. We only have to inhale its simple, yet poignant, energy to connect with it.
Vitality
This vitality multiplies when living in the moment. Thankfully, accessing it is free and easy. No magic pills, airplanes, long car rides are needed to enjoy it. We only need to mindfully observe, and it slides into our awareness as easily as dew slides along the silky surface of a fresh green leaf.
A jovial world exists within the present moment. When enveloped in the brightness of its majestic embrace, we can breathe in the serenity of the moment. In the peaceful folds of tranquility, we quiet our minds and provide a lush and fervent space for focus to take root. Grounded in the present, we are strengthened by the power protecting us from distraction. This is the moment to smile at the world around us with a rich clarity where we can see, feel, and taste its abundance.
A few times a day, we should gift ourselves with the present moment to rejuvenate our minds, stir our creativity, and manifest our dreams into reality. Engage the senses in the carnival of life happening right around us by pausing, observing, and allowing life to tickle us with its clever designs.
