Great happiness comes from appreciating ordinary moments. By living in the past, or planning for the future, today is less valued.
The past is behind us, and the future is just a wish. When we keep looking to the future of doing more, being more, we don’t realize that we are already more. We are enough. Celebrate that right now.
Yes, we may have future goals of getting a better job, pursuing more education, starting a family, or buying a house. Dream big dreams, but also enjoy the journey, because ordinary moments contain some of our most treasured memories.
Looking back on life we may not say, “Oh, the best period in my life was getting a bigger house or a promotion.” We may say one of our fondest memories is when we taught our kid to ride a bike or the getaway with our partner where it rained all weekend. Or making cookies with our children or grandchildren. It is in those ordinary moments that we experience life.
The question may arise, “How do I do I live in the moment?” The answer is simple and ordinary. JUST BE PRESENT! When teaching your kid to ride a bike, don’t think about all the yard work you have to do, just enjoy the experience and connect with your child. When you are on a weekend getaway, don’t think about the office. Be there with your partner and savor the moment. Put your phone away and don’t check your email. Stop thinking about not getting it all done because there will always be something else to do.
Strive to live in the present and appreciate each day whether the days are easy or challenging. After all, that is all we have. We are not guaranteed another day or even this moment. So take time each day and be thankful for the gift of living.
“The more you are focused on time—past and future—the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.” -Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now.
And cherish the people who share this journey with you because they help to make ordinary moments extraordinary. When you do, you will then live a life to remember. Give yourself a present and live for today!!!
