“People
sacrifice the present for the future and life is available only in the present
moment.”
-
Thich
Nhat Hanh,
Zen Buddhist Monk, Peace Activist
The
quote above by Thich Nhat Hanh says so much. How can we really appreciate and
savor the moments of our lives if we don’t pay attention to them while we’re
living them? Worrying about the past or future takes you away from where you
presently are, who you’re presently with, at this very moment. Being present
ingrains that moment into your psyche.
You’ll have all of these moments inside of you, living in your heart and
soul, present, forever, if you pay attention while they’re happening. Paying
attention now means having no regrets later.
We
are constantly being tempted to not fully live and be present in this moment. With
the abundant use of electronic devices of all kinds in our lives today, we
often ignore the person standing right in front of us who’s saying, “Hey, I’m
here. Talk to me. Look me in the eye. Hold my hand. Let’s experience this
moment together.” So many of us take it
to an extreme by using our electronic devices while driving. Talk about not
being present…to the pedestrians, cars, and obstacles around us. Not being
present here often has deadly consequences!
My
last baby is leaving the nest. He’s off to college in the fall. He follows his
three older siblings, out into the great world, beyond the comfortable walls of
home…and he’s not afraid. I’m glad. It means I’ve done my job, the job I’ve had
for the past 26 years. Where has the time gone? It seems like I blinked an eye
and all of my babies were grown, wings spread, ready to fly away. When I think
back to all the sweet moments spent with them, there’s a voice inside me
saying, “I hope you were there, fully present with them, appreciating every
precious moment.” I want to say that I was. When I close my eyes and feel what’s
in my heart, it feels good. There are no regrets and for this I am thankful.
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