Why is it called "The Present" ?

Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, today a gift from Spirit. THAT is why it is called the present.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, today a gift from Spirit…….. THAT is why it is called the present.

The present IS a gift, one that is often ignored. At any given moment we can be miserable. Life is constant series of choices and decisions. We decide what we want to pay attention too and what we let go.  This can be a dangerous path. If you are in denial, unconsciously run away from your feelings , live in a fantasy world, use magical unrealistic thinking, smoke lots of weed , drink etc. you can indeed ignore reality and red flags.   There is a balance. We live in the world but we do not control it.  A wonderful saying from 12 step meeting is: Do the footwork, let go of the results.  We can add to that, don’t forget to smell the roses.

Staying in the present, making plans, yet letting go of control (This is not resignation ….   rather surrender and acceptance) is a disciplined juggling act…… one worth mastering!  No matter how bad or how scary moments of life can be there are moments—  diamonds sitting on black velvet—butterflies landing on a flower—the sigh of contented dog on the floor.  We can gather these moments throughout the day, one flower at a time, until we have a bouquet.

People tell me how hard this is. I wonder. I wonder if it is just hard to break a habit. Every day we gather moments and put them together to describe our day. For many of us the habit is to gather the moments of despair, feelings of failure, and predictions of fear. Once you get into the habit of gathering the moments of connecting to others, seeing a hummingbird, enjoying a meal, laughing with a cashier at a store…it is not such hard work. That is the beauty of habits.  They become habits and habits are easily implemented.   

If your habit of gathering moments of the day needs changing, make the effort. Settle into the new habit of finding those moments that work for you, each day in each situation.  Make your plans, and make part of your plan to enjoy the trail, not just the destination. 

For those of you in dire circumstances—first remember life never stays the same, it always changes. This too shall pass.  If it rains, play in the rain.  If someone is dying, enjoy the sweet sorrow and joy knowing s/he will go to a better place and you have been blessed to know and love him/her. Remember, not everyone HAS someone to love in his/her lifetime.   If you are in poverty, find someone worse off than you to help or share some time with.  Companionship, sharing sorrows, reaching out….. these too can be moments in the dark. This is not easy work; it is easy to be overcome by sorrow and fear. But it is worthwhile work.  Either way you cannot control the events but you can control how you care for yourself given the circumstances. Parent yourself, be your own best friend.  It will serve you well in the present as well as in the future. Become strong enough to find moments of joy. 

Life will change and you will be in better shape when the changes come if you don't let yourself be devastated or debilitated by challenging times. When life gets better, you don't want to have to spend years in recovery because you did not take good care of yourself in the down times-- and there are always down times....just like there is always weather.