January 13, 2016

  
You’ve all heard the saying, “Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” Cute, right? We often read it on a poster at the office or see it online. While we undoubtedly acknowledge the truth of the statement, do we ever really internalize it and behave in a way that reflects the sentiment? Probably not. Those who do live this way have learned an invaluable lesson. Perhaps they’ve suddenly lost a loved one at a young age or been struck down themselves, by a potentially terminal illness. Even at that, how many of us feel the significance of these words for a while, but eventually return to fretting our time away, worrying abut the future or ruminating about the past?

Living in the moment is not easy and requires a lot of effort. We cannot become like Buddhist monks overnight. So, let’s start slowly and set our sights on something we CAN do. Try it right now, while you are reading this blog. Block out distractions and other thoughts that are taking your concentration away. Stop thinking about the calls you need to return or the errands you need to run on your way home. Go back and look at the image above and read it a couple of times. “What we do today is what matters most.” It’s powerful. The past cannot be changed and the future is out of our control. But, today! What will you do with today? 

Think of something you can do today that will enhance the way you interact with the world. I like to use nature – It’s always there but we take it for granted and fail to notice as we rush thru our tasks and tend to our responsibilities. Every day, I look at the sky and take a moment to really see it. It’s beautiful! And it’s different every single day. You can look at it while you’re driving, while you’re working or while you’re doing laundry. And it’s free. So, why not look up. Take a deep breath. Let everything else leave your mind for a moment. And enjoy.

Here’s what’s outside my door right now.