We have a tendency...
and I mean a big tendency, as humans,
to look at the past with nostalgia.
The passing of time makes what's behind us seem all the more sweet.
We largely forget the bad and cling to the good parts of our history (or herstory).
And yet, our world is built to run in only one direction...
forward....
like a car with no transmission or accelerator.
Here, stuck in the middle of what's ahead and what's behind,
is where life actually happens.
We sit in the driver's seat with the past in our rear view mirror
and the future in front of the windshield,
and we are unable to speed up or slow down,
much less throw ourselves into reverse.
And yet, we spend so much of our mental energy on everything but the here and now.
We either lament or long for the past.
We either look forward to or worry about the future.
We sit in the driver's seat while the here and now passes by us...
out our side window,
and we forget to look... to observe...
to roll down the window and appreciate what is all around us with all of our senses.
Here and Now.
There have been so many books written on the subject of
"living in the now"
"being present"
and a baker's dozen ways to express the same idea.
Quite simply...
These are the good ole days!
This is all we get.
This.
This moment, right now is all we have.
Each moment that passes is gone forever.
I can't remember when I realized this fact of life
and incorporated it into my being.
I know it was not that long ago... the wisdom of age.
Oh, we can all say we know this to be true,
but how many of us live this idea?
How many of us have dropped fear from our psyche.
How many of us have truly embraced the present moment
without judgement of its worth,
but embraced it as all we truly have...
and appreciated the beauty in that.
Wiping away all of the useless chatter of our brains
and embracing the present moment takes practice.
It takes the mobilization of all of our senses
and the quieting of our thoughts.
It requires us to be "of" the world instead of being "in" the world.
Often times, when I am spending moments with my animals,
or my loved ones,
or when I am alone and surrounded by the peace and quiet of nature,
I remind myself that, indeed,
these ARE the good ole days.
I also remind myself that I am not entitled to any of this...
that this life is a gift....
the most precious of gifts.
You may have noticed that today's photos have nothing to do with
today's post.... except for the fact that they represent "today."
If you were lucky enough to have opened your eyes this morning...
go have yourself the perfect day...
remembering that to hold a day-
with gratitude for the day
and without judgement of the day-
will make it a perfect day.
Just bee!
Comments
Blessings!
What a wonderful, heartfelt post this morning ... this First Day of Autumn! Let the Leaves fall where they may and fill each day the very best way you can!
Stay well ... stay safe ... stay kind ... stay calm and continue to wear your masks!