YES: Discover HOW to live THIS exact moment... rather than just hearing about how great it is.
The next time I hear or read someone saying some version of
“Live in the Now” or “You must live this moment” or “Stay Present to this
Moment.” I might just throw up. I was thinking that last night when I was in a
pretty cranky, not in the moment sort of moment.
It’s been said over and over and how often is it translated into living it?
My best guess is this: people nod their heads and agree and yet they don’t know what it is to live fully in this moment or how to be in the now.
Yet my mind wandered again this morning. It floated into the desire to vomit when some well meaning person reminds us to live life fully now I asked myself, “Well, what are you doing?”
I woke up at 4:54 with a scene from the movie Pitch Perfect running through my brain. There was no way I could get back to sleep so instead I decided to get up and chase the sunrise. It had been so long since I had been up early enough to watch the day’s entrance. I got out of bed and started driving to some of the places I thought would have the best view.
I was driving to my destination and I saw a cool railroad track sign combination but it was too dark and there was a car and a van behind me so I didn’t want to get out and try it. Then I noticed there was a row of cars in front of me. Then I realized as they pulled their cars into the perfectly straight rows of fruit trees that these cars and vans are filled with farm workers, preparing for another day of overly hot, back aching day of work in the fields.
My heart rang out in compassion.
THAT was being in the moment.
I kept driving, seeing the sky lighten as I headed north. I was worried about missing the daily entrance so I pulled over and took some shots of the rolling lands filled with citrus and the sun, she waited. I rolled my eyes and considered going home because this was obviously a waste of precious time.
THAT was not being in the moment.
I kept driving and looking at the mountains ahead I noticed for the first time how layered the mountains truly are, which is why I suppose they are plural rather than singular. I had never really been aware of the layers of mountains, though, and how one appears to be growing up behind and above another. I took a deep breath and considered the metaphors I could write them into. I took a deep breath and just stared with a growing sense of wonder, no longer concerned with how I could take this view and “turn it into something.”
THAT moment of wonder was being in the moment.
My camera isn’t fancy enough to capture the nuances I could see. This is simply a reality so I moved along without frustration, I moved along just because.
While I waited for the crown of the sun to show her golden rays, I listened to the river sing her song of gratitude. I closed my eyes to really feel the soft breeze. Here in Bakersfield it feels so very good to have a 73 degree breeze in the morning since the highs are close to or in the triple digits nearly daily.
Enjoying the breeze without thought of later heat is being in the moment.
Is this making sense to you?
How about this: just for today, keep an eye on yourself and see when you are feeling immersed in the moment and when you are rushing in your mind to “what’s next, what’s next, what’s next” or whatever your current method may be. Some of you may have this down which is great. In that case, take a few extra, mindful breaths as you enjoy your day.
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