Have you ever wondered how life seems like it’s passing by so quickly? Do you feel like you’re doing the same old thing every day? Sure, at times, life gets monotonous and simply mundane. At times, it feels like we wake up, go about our day, run our errands, and then get done just in time to hit our heads on that pillow and start the same old thing all over again the next morning. We realize that there are things that need to get done that are essential, like brushing our teeth, filling up the gas tank, picking up the kids from soccer practice, and doing the endless piles of laundry we sometimes feel like throwing in a huge pit of fire and brimstone. Those are just a few of the many things we might have going on in our daily lives.
So, what is living in the moment vs. living in a passing moment? As human nature has given us the innate inner want to evolve, we have this never-ending hunger to reach that next step. You know? The next steps like getting that job, making more money, finally cleaning out the garage, and getting our lives in order. The funny thing is that we become so fixated on arriving at the place, or status that we deem as our goal, that we forget to live life along the way.
For example, when I began writing this article, I had my dog at my side trying to get my attention. I petted her and gave her a moment of acknowledgment, and went back to writing. I noticed something was amiss and stopped for a moment to think of what just transpired, and that was that I could not remember what petting my dog or giving her attention a moment ago felt like. I remember it happened, but I can’t attach a feeling to the moment that just passed. So this is a good example of what a passing moment is. It’s when one completes an action or gesture yet is unattached to the receiver or the current situation. This is when a moment passes from your life that you were not fully present for.
After realizing that I had missed a moment that could have been made into a good memory, I stopped what I was doing, and started to rub my dog’s fur as she lay by the couch enjoying every second of it. As I stroked her fur, focused on her breathing, and relaxed in the moment, I felt a connection to the majestic beast of a husky I have. Surprisingly, though it seemed like a long time, it was only a couple of minutes of my time. What did I get
out of those two minutes? For one, I was completely in the moment, in the present, and nothing else existed for those two minutes. Second, I felt relaxed and at peace, almost as if a moment was at a standstill. Third, my pupper felt loved; we connected for a moment, and I will always have this memory of her to remember for as long as I live.
Have you ever wondered why you can’t remember certain moments in your life? It’s because they were passing moments. If you’re not in the present at that moment, you can’t connect to it emotionally.
“If you’re not in the present in that moment, you can’t connect to it emotionally.”
So here’s a challenge for you. Seeing we are in the spring season, and as you visit with family, friends, or even spend time with your beloved furry friend, put all the distractions down, stop and look at really look at them. Forget your surroundings, forget the noise around you, and simply listen and connect. Don’t let the hustle and bustle of everyday demands take away the magic you can feel even in the most unexpected moments you think might be ordinary. Live in that moment and even if it lasts five minutes, it’s five minutes of your life you truly lived in the present and will always remember.
