A lot of you know that I read a lot. Three days ago, I didn’t think I would reach 200 at all this year because my schedule have been terribly hectic. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to stop at 199, so this past two days, I decided to download a book in my Kindle, and finished it just in time.
It was called "The Precious Present."
It was about a man who was told all his life (by someone much older and much wiser) about a "precious present" he would some day receive. The man pined away endlessly wondering what that present would be. He was distracted always wondering how this most precious of presents would change his life for the better as had been promised.
This man wasn't able to take in life in all its joy and glory because in the back of his mind he was always waiting. Waiting. Waiting for that "precious present" to emerge and make his life all that he hoped it would become.
In the end the man realizes that the "present" he has been anxiously awaiting is actually just exactly that: the present...the here and now.
The man realizes that the present is truly the best gift he could receive and although he wishes he had made that discovery earlier, he is caught up in the beauty of it all: the gift of really being right where he was when he was there. Not always wasting away waiting for the next big thing coming up or worrying about the past. The fact that he was alive, on earth, soaking in the moment of the present filled him with joy and wonder.
And because he accepted that gift his life was made whole.
As I have considered what I want my 2012 "WORD" to be I tried to think of a word that would incorporate all the words I wish I could weave into my life. FOCUS was my word for 2011. This year, I want so much to have my life be truly led by GOD’s “Precious Present”. I want to love more and appreciate everything around me. I want to find a way to calm the whirlwind of stress that goes through me like a hurricane every day as I try to run from one thing to the next. I thought of "peace," "calm," “resilience,” "deliberate," “choices", but for some reason nothing was quite eloquent enough to wrap around all that I want so much to become this year.
But the more I thought the more I realized that the word "present" could somehow encase my desires. At least how I have it situated in my mind, I know it will work.
You see, I want so much to be "present" in my life. Sure, I love to hold on to the past and remember it so that it will influence my own "present," and of course I want to plan for the future and make goals and take steps to become that future woman I hope to some day become. I might be turning 43 this year, but it is never too old to begin and be better each year.
But just like the man in my book, I must realize that in order to fully soak in the past and be ready for the future...and in order to be joyous in the moment I must live in the present.
I love reading and one of my favorite quotes is written by Iris Krasnow, "Being There [is] an emotional and spiritual shift, of succumbing to Being Where You Are When You Are, and Being There as much as possible."
It’s true that life contains an endless supply of days.
When I was younger, I thought this for sure. It didn’t matter how long I held a grudge, or how long I waited to do something I wanted—there would be an unlimited pool of other opportunities. At least that’s what I thought back then. Maybe it’s a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood: the moment when you realize life happens now, and that’s all you’re guaranteed. It doesn’t really hit you when you merely know it intellectually, like you know your ABCs, state capitals, and other concrete facts.
It hits you when somehow you feel it. Your health declines. You lose someone you love. A tragedy rocks your world. It isn’t until you realize that all life fades that you consider now a commodity and a scarce one at that.
But maybe that’s irrelevant. Maybe living a meaningful, passionate life has nothing to do with its length and everything to do with its width.
Life is too short to worry about the why, where, how, when, and the what. I want to enjoy the present, the EACH present day that God bless me with. Because, after all, I agree with the man in that story, the present is the greatest present I could ever ask for. And I don't want it to slip away without fully being a part of it.
So to live up to my word for 2012, I came up with these: I hope it will give you the “UMPH” to do the same.
1. Live in the moment. Forget the past and don’t concern yourself with the
future.
2. Fully embrace the now, no matter what the situation.
3. Do the things you love.
4. Learn to forgive and embrace unconditional love.
5. Live every day as if it’s your last, embracing each experience as if it’s your
first.
6. Believe in “live and let live.”
7. Use quiet reflection, honesty, and laughter.
8. Be other-centered.
9. Find calm in making art, reading, cooking, baking, singing, dancing,
whatever your heart desires.
10. Focus on today and how you can do your best to live it to the fullest.
11. Participate in life instead of just watching it pass you by.
12. Stay healthy, eat right and most importantly, be kind to all.
13. Pray, forgive yourself, appreciate others, listen to your gut, do things you
enjoy, and remind yourself that we are all loved and connected.
14. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
15. Question everything, keep it simple, and help whenever and however you
can.
16. Try to enjoy every minute of every day.
17. Appreciate life’s every second.
18. Step through new doors. The majority of the time there’s something
fantastic on the other side.
19. Remember that all is a gift, but the most precious of all gifts is life and love.
20. Keep your spirit free, be flexible, let go!
21. Do one thing every day that scares you.
22. Don’t attach to outcomes.
23. Spend as much time with your loved ones, even your pet (Diamond), they
have a short life span.
24. Enjoy each and every moment of life. Every day is a new challenge and
opportunity to discover something new.
25. Travel! It is always an adventure! You get to enjoy what fate has to offer.
26. Be honestly thankful for every breath you take.
27. Just be YOU. Ignore the haters and fake people in your life. It doesn’t
matter if they accept you. God loves you unconditionally even though you are
a sinner and continuously making mistakes. Remember, no one is perfect.
28. Trust yourself. Trust your heart. Trust your own strengths.
29. Pause momentarily before everything you do so that you notice everything
you should or could notice.
30. Follow your hopes and not your fears.
You see, THE PRESENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WISHING. . . WHEN YOU HAVE THE PRESENT YOU WILL BE PERFECTLY CONTENT TO BE WHERE YOU ARE. . . THE RICHNESS OF THE PRESENT COMES FROM ITS OWN SOURCE. . . THE PRESENT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE GIVES YOU. . . IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GIVE TO YOURSELF. . . .
Happy New Year!
With love and friendship,
~ Ella
