Celebrating the Present

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly"....(Buddha). What does it mean to honestly live in the present? Well, it kinda looks like and feels like those moments that you are immersed in a doing an activity that you love or that's consuming. Before you realize it, the day has flown by and you had no concept of time. That's being in the moment. Being present in the present, is like the best gift ever that you gift yourself. You are completely wrapped in the present, not thinking about the next present or the past present but instead, completely intrigued and living in the now. Sometimes, you may enjoy the present moment, while other times, you are just getting through it. Living in the moment doesn't mean that you don't reflect about the past or plan your future however. Reflection on the past is often necessary to heal things unfinished and to take stock on how your past can help you navigate your present. Pondering the future means setting goals and envisioning where you want to be but then you live in the moment keenly aware that the decisions you make now will help you attain your future goals. Those who do not live in the present, spend substantially more time ruminating over the past, regretting what they lost or wishing they still lived in the past. People who live in the future always fear the worse, become anxious about where they are heading or they daydream endlessly about their futures. Being in the now takes discipline and awareness. Being conscious as to where your mind drifts to is important. Being connected is the key word here, because being connected means you are able to remain present and aware as to what is working and not working in your life. If you are not living in the moment, then you might be sleepwalking through your life, avoiding taking responsibility for where you are and where you are heading. We all know people who are not present. It's easy to spot because they often are not able to even carry on a conversation without seeming like they are distracted, tuned out or onto the next thought without listening to where the conversation is. Other signs are when the person s always fretting about their future. No matter how many conversations you've had with them, they are always spinning about what's ahead, with zero awareness that that current relationships are a mess. We also know those who live in the past. They cannot get over losses, they tend to be angry and they may have nostalgia over the way things were. There are countless ways to avoid living mindfully in the present but the bottom line is that the more you avoid the present, the more you are not living a connected life. Give yourself the gift of the moment. Wrap the present moment in a package with beautiful wrapping and a bow,  then unwrap it slowly and bask in everything the moment allows and offers. Live the tears, the loss, the love and the joy. Enjoy the endless wrapped gifts that lie ahead, one for every moment in time. Like the best birthday wish ever, when the presents are lined up and seem to be infinite. Living in the present is truly like unwrapping one gift, moment by moment, never knowing exactly what each present will bring. There will be some re-gifting (where the moment seems to be something you've been through before),  some baffling presents, and many wonderful surprises that you never expected. Happy present moment! Enjoy the gifts that life gives you when you are paying attention. They are the treasures of living a connected life.