Now

Be present to this moment in time.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the week for Living Life Better.

NOW

Be present to this moment in time.  

Definition: This instant, currently, present moment, this second, today

Other: immediate, present, tuned-in, exact moment

Opposite: later, procrastinate, past, future

I used to wish my life away, thinking things would always be better “someday.” I used every future condition in the world. I would say, when I have a boyfriend, when I get married, when I have kids, when I get a raise, when I have the next certification class or seminar, when I find another job, when I retire…Maybe you have experienced this also.

I become aware of this habit slowly. I remember working with a guy who always talked about “when he retired” he’d do this and that and never stopped to enjoy the gift of today. He would do these elaborate calculations to figure out the perfect time to retire based on actuarial analyses. The sad thing is that he didn’t live beyond a couple of years in retirement. All that dreaming and planning for a far off time blinded him to the precious gift of his life in the here and now.

I caught myself in this trap during a family vacation to Hawaii. We were on one island for a few days and headed to another. I thought the next island will be better…and I caught myself and thought, What am I doing? I am on vacation with my family and I will enjoy THIS island for the gift that it is. It was a breakthrough. It was a start on my road to mindful and intentional living.

Could it be that the present moment is named that because it is a gift…a present?

When I catch myself looking to the future instead of savoring the gift of my now moment, I remind myself to stop…catch a breath…enjoy the now…because the now is the only moment that counts.

Grounding myself in nature really helps me being present.

How can you become centered and more aware of the now moment?

·       Stop, take a breath and come back into the present.

·       Enjoy nature.

·       Go barefoot outdoors.

·       Eat root vegetables.

·       Light a candle and enjoy its calming splendor.

·       Enjoy a warm beverage.

·       Meditate or do yoga, or lay on the ground (see how the animals enjoy earthing.)

·       Mindfully focus on one task at a time and being present.

·       Focus on be-ing instead of doing.

·       Savor this moment for the gift that it is.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow. We are not guaranteed the next hour or the next moment. The now moment is the only moment we have; savor it, celebrate it.

 Find the Good,

Becky and Janette