Some thoughts about how to enjoy your life right now

Journal writing could be a good way to be aware of the current moment. The one thing that all of us must be careful of is that we don't put it to use to critique ourselves, for instance, for not writing often enough, or well enough, or concerning important things. When we use it to notice and appreciate a day, a minute, or even a month or a year, it is a great tool.

Be here now. Do this now. How often can we hear these words, or similar ones, without being attentive to them? I was just in a yoga class where this was the motif. At the start of the class the teacher spoke the words and then gently talked about how difficult it is to follow this thought. We are so often focused on what we wish to be and where we wish to go and what we must achieve that we forget to get pleasure from the present time.

After each series of movements, the teacher would quietly say these words, reminding us to try to appreciate what we were feeling in that moment.

The theme had special meaning for me that day. My son had recently been home from college for a very brief visit. My husband I always anticipate his visits with great excitement. Yet when he arrives our small and already cluttered New York City apartment somehow starts to feel overstuffed. During his absence it seems that we have gotten used to having more space for our disorganization. So when he is at home again, happy as we are to see him, we start to feel a little overwhelmed and sometimes a little irritable.

On this visit I explained to him that I was working hard to keep the apartment a little neater and would really appreciate his help. He said that he would be glad to help, but that he thought the apartment looked wonderful - nice and cozy and warm. It was a sweet compliment, and I thanked him for it; but I half-laughingly told him that I wanted it to look elegant. He seemed astonished. "Mom," he said, "that would be awful. It wouldn't be you. This is you."

I thought of his words when I was trying to stay present in my yoga class. No, my apartment would never be elegant. I have too many things, too many photos, too many knick knacks, too many messy spots piled with books and papers.

After the yoga class I started thinking of ways that I could work towards being more present. I made a short list that I thought I would share with you. I would love to know of other possibilities, of ways that you have managed to bring yourself into the present, and whether or not that has helped you feel more comfortable being who you are. Books you have read, things you have learned, techniques you use. And I'd also like to know if you have questions or doubts about the idea - and if you've tried things that haven't worked! Here are my suggestions.

1 - Go for a walk in your neighborhood. Turn off your mp3 player. Listen to the sounds around you. Take in the smells, the sights, the feelings of being there. Do not try to accomplish anything. Do not run errands. If you stop and speak with someone, feel yourself there fully. If you speak to no one, feel what it is like. Neither of these is better than the other. Simply appreciate what it feels like to be in your neighborhood at this time on this day.

2 - If you have a child, take a few moments to be with him or her. Do not try to teach her anything. Just play or talk or sing or walk or even just sit and watch television. Pay attention to what is happening in the moment. If it is possible and not intrusive to him and doesn't interfere with whatever he is concentrating on, feel his skin. If she does not want to be touched, just feel what it is like being near to her. Listen to her sounds. Breathe the air around her. Try to put aside thoughts about whether or not he is doing things at a particular developmental or academic level, how she compares to other children her age or how he is in relation to his siblings. Enjoy this moment.


3 - Have a face to face conversation with another person (for this exercise, it should not be on the phone). It can be someone with whom you are very close, someone you might like to get to know better, or a chance acquaintance. Try to focus on the sounds of your voices, on the ways you feel standing or sitting near this person. Pay attention to how you feel as you end the conversation and move away from one another. See where your thoughts go. Try not to judge or criticize yourself or the other person. Try also not to look into the future or think about the past. Try to simply feel what it is like at this moment with this person.

4 - Take a yoga class or a meditation class and try to focus on each moment.

5 - Do any kind of exercise for a specific, limited period of time. Pay attention to what it feels like, but try not to allow yourself to think about how fast you are going or how hard you are working or how much more you should be doing. Give yourself credit for what you are doing each moment; and try to feel your muscles, your breath, your head, your feet, your skin - even your hair -as you go along.

6 - Hug someone you care about. This can be a spouse, a partner, a child (if they are willing), a parent, a pet, a friend. Feel your skin, their skin, the ways your bodies touch. Listen to the sounds you both make. Pay attention to the way they smell. Don't think about "where this will go." In fact, don't let it go anywhere. Keep it short. Just let it be. See what you feel in the next present moment.

7 - Take a shower or a bath. Use a scented soap. Burn candles (with care). Enjoy the moment; and pay attention to what you feel and think throughout the process and afterwards. (Don't be surprised to find that you are tempted to do more self-grooming. It's a natural response. You may want to smooth on body cream, file your nails, wash and dry your hair.) If you have the time, follow these urges, again paying attention to each moment. If you're out of time, remember this activity and what it felt like - and try to make time for it again as soon as you can!

8 - Read a book, listen to music, go to a movie. Let yourself be absorbed in the experience without trying to judge any aspect of the experience.

9 - Cook or bake something. It doesn't need to be a epicure dish. It can be something you eat alone or share with someone else. Make scrambled eggs if that appeals to you. But be aware of the course. What do you feel as you crack the eggs, beat them in the bowl, turn them into the pan? How does it feel to eat them? These are just a few thoughts. Do you have any other thoughts and activities which have helped you to "be present, be here now".

It would be a good idea to take things apart. I know that learning to play the piano badly has made it easier for me to realize good music much more. And remembering to think about good things, or things we've accomplished, or things we liked about a day is such a good suggestion, it's so much simpler, it seems, to think about what went wrong, but why not take into consideration what went right instead?

Copyright by Lucy, a beautiful girl who likes collecting things, shopping online and playing computer, has a coach outlet store and coach outlet online with lots of fashion things.