Living in the Moment

Jan23
2012 2 Comments Written by Tiffany Teske

Photo courtesy Tiffany Teske.

It is a new year, and I have been thinking about things I hope to accomplish this year. Recently, during a friend’s surprise birthday party, I was struck by a bumper sticker on the wall at Nourish Bistro in Banff that was reminding readers to live in the moment. A simple phrase, yet a goal I continually aim for with varying success. If you are like me, you cram as many experiences you can into an average day, constantly being pulled in multiple directions. This makes living in the moment an elusive challenge sometimes, but definitely one worth tackling.

Photo courtesy Tiffany Teske.

Let’s start right now. Just for a few minutes. If you don’t know how to begin, look to a child for guidance. They are experts at living in the moment, at truly focusing on the wind in their hair, jumping in a puddle or running until they can barely breathe. No kiddos to emulate? Just go outside and look around. I mean really look and see our beautiful Rocky Mountains. Don’t think about what you should have said or where you need to be. Get lost in right now.

I promise that if you do this nothing will fall apart. I promise that what needs to get done will still get done. I also promise you will gain so much if you drink in all the present moment is offering. It will renew you. Your ability to see the small details that you normally rush by, to hear the quiet noises in the pauses, to smell the nuances in the fresh air, to feel the textures all around you and to taste each bite of the food before you will not only enrich your daily experience, but inspire you to be more creative, to make better art.

Photo courtesy Tiffany Teske.

Your art may be making ice cream, belly dancing, writing political essays, weaving friendship bracelets, painting by number or playing air guitar. Whatever your creative endeavours, they will be enhanced by being open in this moment. Your ability to live in the present and to experience it in all its wonder will open up a whole new world of ideas and possibilities that you may never have considered. You don’t believe me? What have you got to lose? What might you actually gain? How might you benefit from listening to your child, your partner or a meadowlark?

Time will march on, whether you are paying attention or not, and nothing will bring it back. Go ahead – pause, take a breath and slow down for a minute. Forget what has to be done right now and be aware.

For the next five minutes look outside of yourself, at something other than yourself, and embrace what you find.

I dare you.

What do you do to live in the present moment?
Tiffany Teske

Tiffany Teske

Tiffany Teske runs with scissors and runs amuck but rarely runs out of steam. She has two kiddo sidekicks with whom she bakes treats for tea parties, stages photo shoots during dress up, and holds dance parties between hugs and opportunities to be doused in glue and glitter. Tiffany hoards Polaroid film and old photographs of other people's families. She could not live without bread, wine, chocolate, olives, and cheese. She has written, photographed, and made art for cupcakes, home grown produce, chiropractic services, haircuts, vacations, and art. To follow her adventures and mishaps, peruse her blog art food & motherhood.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

Posted in Art + Soul, Go Deep - Tagged , , , ,
Similar posts
  • http://www.theoutage.com/ the Outage

    Tiffany, any advice for those who feel like their “present moment” isn’t worth savoring? Drones trapped in beige cubicles, or those struggling with illness, for example?

    They would probably benefit from the mindfulness you tout here, but I’d imagine that it’s tough for such people to experience the present moment with gratitude.

    • http://www.facebook.com/tiffany.teske Tiffany Teske

      Hi! I appreciate your comment and wanted to think on it overnight. I
      admit that while I am normally good at putting myself in other peoples’
      shoes and at looking at things from all angles, I wrote this blog point
      from my perspective only. That being said, of course, my reality is not
      that of everyone else.

      I don’t know that I am the one to be giving advice on this to someone
      who doesn’t like their job or for someone who is ill. Those are both
      very different situations with a myriad of different circumstances
      shading each person’s experiences. I can only answer for myself, if I were facing these things.

      For me, it is the little things in life that make it worth living. If I
      am having a bad day, week, month, or year, those little things help get
      me through it. Truthfully, I have the job I always wanted. But, if I
      didn’t, I would have to chose to make a change. That might not be easy,
      but being able to take a walk and breathe in mountain air would help me
      to see the things I want for my life, and the sunshine on my face,
      making me feel alive, would be cherished while finding my way out of
      darkness.

      If I had an illness I knew I was not going to have forever, which could
      be anything from the flu to something more serious and long lived, I
      would probably only have the energy to focus on the present, not knowing
      what the future would bring. Taking into account pain management, I
      would hope that I could enjoy the things that are important to me like
      the company of friends, children, and family, listening to music,
      reading , or looking at art.

      I have not been around many people who have a terminal illness or
      debilitating accident, and I have to say I would be scared, in pain, and
      probably not able to focus for awhile. After that, I would probably
      follow the example of my grandfather, who was a very healthy man for 89
      years but in the last 6 months of his life he was very sick. I was only
      able to see him once during that time, when he took the exhausting trip
      to a family reunion so he could be with his family. I learned from that
      day and from talking with him a lot on the phone until his death, that
      the only things that were even important to him anymore were the little
      things. The things with no prestige, monetary value, or pressure. Things
      like taking a short walk in the sunshine, listening to birds sing,
      holding the hand of a loved one and talking, smelling a flower, reading
      or writing a letter, praising a small child for their drawing, eating
      his favourite thing. Living in the moment was all that was left.

      As I write this, my 2.5 year old daughter has brought me not one, not
      two, but 15 little tea cups, pots, sugar bowls, and creamers, filled
      with this clay that is a sticky version of those styrofoam pellets in
      beanbag chairs. They are colourful little cups ofbubbling tea and hot
      chocolate, which she has proudly set up next to me, beaming and giggling
      each time I stop typing, and enjoy a cup. This is one of those little
      moments where I am able to enjoy her, between moments filled with work
      and obligations. Instead of getting frustrated by the constant
      interruptions, today, I am able to enjoy them. Maybe it is just a matter
      of practice, but I am hoping that the more a person, no matter what
      their situation, takes the time to relax, breathe, smile, and break away
      from their obligations even just for a few minutes at a time, the more
      they will continue to decide to live in and for these moments.

      Does anyone else have thoughts to share on this? Please do!!

Blog Archives

 All contents ©Highline Magazine.
Back to Top