Our Time is Now
Have you been frustrated, restless, sad, maybe even depressed, wishing that our lives could return to what they used to be? So have I!! Going to a store mask-free, hugging friends, hopping on a plane to go anywhere I wanted, just visiting without feeling like I had to make an appointment or know whether or not I’ll be accepted (as everyone has their own set of rules)… so many everyday things that we previously took for granted.
“There is only one time when it is essential to awaken. That time is now.”
This is a difficult and challenging time, even for the most positive, most grateful people. I too am struggling. All three of my children (now in their late 20’s) are currently back at home with us. Of course I’m grateful for our health and to be able to have all the kids home, however, it’s also been tough on all of us. My husband and I are used to being empty-nesters and our adult children are used to living by their own rules now. As you can imagine, this creates a lot of new tension in our house.
So I’ve been making an effort to reset and refocus on being present in the moment.
I’m working on not looking back with regret, not looking forward with fear, but instead, being right here, right now. I’m trying to let go of the resistance. After all, what we resist, persists. Our thoughts have power so it’s important to be intentional about what we’re focusing on.
“To live in the present moment is a miracle. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.”
I realize how much time the mental chatter takes up so I’ve been practicing staying present. If I focus on what I’m doing, what I’m seeing, what I’m hearing, my thoughts naturally become more uplifting. I feel so much more alive and grateful.
It doesn’t have to be anything complicated; I love just spending mornings outside, checking things out to see what’s growing. If you keep your eyes and ears open to the world around you- to the small things- and keep practicing being grateful, you will become more present and more aware as a way of being in the world.