Living in the Present

My intention for this year is to live more in the present.

I chose this focus because I thought that by living more in the present I would improve all aspects of my life.

Every person has a primary state of time that they spend the most time in. Some people could spend hours reflecting on the past and analyzing and reliving their past experiences. Others are able to be present in the here and now. And, then there are those like myself who walk around pre-occupied with thoughts of what's coming next and envisioning the future.

As a future-oriented person, I find it serves me well in being a planner. It also serves me well in that I don't dwell on hardships too long and never hold grudges. 

On the otherhand, it also means that I have a difficult time just being in the moment and enjoying the present. On every single vacation I've ever been on, there's been a conversation asking, "Where should we go on our next vacation?"

There are many tips and tricks to live in the present, but I am also utilizing some of my own.

Most of all, I'm trying hard to just let things flow and not try to control. Some might call it "flying by the seat of my pants."

Also, I'm working on taking things as they come. Rather than trying to force things, I'm working on trusting.

One of the most challenging things I've been practicing involves music. Anyone who knows me, knows I listen to music all the time. In the car, in the shower, all day while I work, while I clean... 

I have a habit of switching songs pretty frequently, or taking forever to pick a song. I always want the "best" song that I'm in the mood for. I always think that there's a better song.

I've been working on just letting the music play. It takes every bit of self control to just leave it be. I find that in a few minutes I'm grooving to the song and I'm enjoying it.

I won't say that I have completely broken this habit, but it's a start.

One of the absolute best pieces I've read about living in the present is this article. I encourage anyone to take some time and read it.

I end with a good quote on living in the present:

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”- Henry David Thoreau