Over the last few weeks I’ve begun to notice how quickly my son, who will turn three in April, has been developing and moving forward with his life’s journey, especially as my husband and I try to prepare him for the impending birth of a sister.
I realize he is the measure and the reminder that time does not stand still; no matter what we do, the clock continues to tick. We know we cannot turn back the hands of time, nor can we stop the sand from running through the hourglass. But we all feel the need to buy into the idea or notion that it is still possible, one way or another, right? Admit it. The commercials for those cosmetics for fading age spots have hit a nerve at some point. I know they have for me, and at the age of thirty-nine I was still getting carded when buying alcohol at the liquor store! Which, by the way, I don’t mind one bit.
What if we just began to choose to live in the present? You know, like just focus on this exact moment. What does it mean? What does it hold for us? Am I learning something at this time? Or am I teaching someone a new nugget of wisdom?
Could you or can you do it? How about for the next sixty seconds you give it a try while reading this posting? What do you have to do? Think of nothing, but focus on reading the words on screen. Stop the little voice in your head that is telling you what you “should” be doing instead of reading this. Turn off the music or television. Read these words. What are they saying to you? Oops, caught you! You started thinking about your other tasks on the never-ending to-do list. Refocus. Try again. Keep trying until you can truly turn off all outside and inside noise and focus on what you’re doing. This takes practice. If this posting isn’t enough to keep your attention (don’t worry, I won’t take it personally), then try this exercise with something you do truly enjoy.
We are inundated with information. Radio commercials, billboards, television commercials, pop-up banners, ads on the websites we visit, emails, voice mails, etc. No wonder time passes so quickly! We are so busy trying to stay on top of everything we are not only required to do, but also those we need to do. And how about those things we really want to do?
Remaining present is difficult, but the more we practice, the better we can begin to appreciate what surrounds us. Time can be on our side; it just takes a little time to be able to embrace that what is happening at this exact moment is the most important thing for us. And with that note, my time is most important being spent watching my son explore the dirt and experience the crinkling of winter leaves on the ground. What is most important to you right now? How can you embrace time so it is on your side?
Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.
Namaste,
Karen
