Slowing Down and Being Present
By: Deandra Christianson
Lately, I have noticed, more than usual, the hustle and bustle
of our daily lives. Everyone is in a hurry, has somewhere to be, a cell phone
attached to one hand, and coffee in the other. People are honking if the person
in front of them doesn’t move his or her foot from the break to the gas pedal
fast enough after the light turns green. Everyone must constantly “go, go, go!”
Now add to the mix cell phones, texting, e-mails, Internet, and computers, and
we truly can be reached almost anytime, anywhere.
Personally, this all gets to be a lot. I have started
challenging myself to live in the moment and notice the experiences around and
inside of me more frequently. Taking a deep breath can bring me to a place of
awareness, but sometimes it takes a little more work. This usually happens when
I am stressed out or overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. In those times,
it feels as if all I can think about is the daunting “TO DO” list. When this
occurs, I go through my senses and try to pay attention to what each one is
experiencing in that particular moment.
When I practice being in the moment, I am brought to a place
of gratitude. I am better able to see all of the wonder and beauty around me. Being
in the moment helps me forgive and move on from the past and to not worry about
what is to come.
And of course, after these moments, my “TO DO” list is
always there waiting for me, and the constant “go, go, go!” goes back to
normal.
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