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?
