Nothing Like the Present

“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.”
—Albert Camus

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There is nothing like the present time. Present time is really all we have. None of us are guaranteed to live another day, let alone another second. One could perceive the preceding statement as morbid. On the contrary, the statement is actually about life and living. It’s about living a fulfilled life by living in the present moment. It’s about being released from the prisons of the past and about being free from the worry of a time that has yet to come.

For most of us, living in the present moment is hard. The past seems to want to drag us back into the past, and the future seems to want to instill in us fear of what is, or, what isn’t to come. Take into account the influence of the past and the future on our present thinking, and throw into the mix our 21st Century, busy and hectic, schedules, and who in their right mind could begin to live in the present moment?

You can! You just need to practice. Your simple practice plan is below. Make it a point to practice daily and the present moment will begin to seem more and more like the present moment each day.

1) Learn to appreciate the gifts of nature. Look around you. God is artist and nature is his artwork. There is just something about crystal clear blue skies, freshly fallen snow, the roaring sea, a winding brook, majestic mountains and colorful meadows to a name a few. Take it all in, there’s plenty of beauty before your eyes.

2) Learn to appreciate the people in your life: People will come and go in your life. But, the most important people are the people in your life right now. Tell them you love them. Thank them for their love and support. When you’re with them, make them your number one focus. Nothing tells someone that you care and appreciate them more than excluding out the rest of the world, and making the person you’re with “your world” for the moment. In other words, when you’re with someone, be with them!

3) Learn to appreciate yourself: You’ll never be able to enjoy the present moment, if you’re constantly critical of yourself and comparing yourself with the Jones’. The Jones’ are the Jones’ and let the Jones’ be the Jones’. We don’t need two Jones’. God made us all unique for a reason. And yes, God is an artist and you are his masterpiece. When you don’t appreciate yourself, you are in essence telling God that you don’t appreciate his work. Make it a point to be quick to forgive yourself, always be kind to yourself and above all, love yourself.

Years back, there was a commercial that said, “It doesn’t get much better than this.” To me, it doesn’t get much better than the following scenario: Taking a walk with someone you love and being with them in the present moment, both of you taking in the beauty of nature, and you privately saying to God, thank you for everything you have given to me and thank you for the masterpiece of me!

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Its Your Life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD