Wednesday 6 January 2016

Now is Now

The beginning of a new year is always a time of reflection for me...
I've spent a lot of time over the last few weeks thinking about 2015: what worked and what didn't, what was good and what was not so good, how I felt, what I would change.....

A lot of thinking, yes, but I made a very important personal realization:
I spent a lot of time last year feeling overwhelmed and hurried. That there was always something else I needed to do. I could not quiet my mind. I always had a list and whenever I would strike something off, I would add another five things. I spent a great deal of time cleaning up from something or getting ready for something, spending all my time on yesterday and tomorrow and not at all on today.

It occurred to me that I was not fully enjoying the day I was living, the moment I was in...and this needed to change.

I was struck with the fear that in my flurry - in my constant 'get things done' mode of operation - that I was missing things. Bridget just celebrated her ninth birthday, and for me nothing puts the passage of time into perspective more than the birthdays of my children...

I came to the realization that I need to start living in the now a little bit more. Enjoying the everyday moments more. Not that I hadn't been at all - there were many, many wonderful moments in the past year that I fully embraced - I just realized that I was not doing this as often and completely as I could, and as I wanted to. I had let the hustle and bustle of life take over.

One word kept coming to mind: Now.

About the same time as I came to this realization I stumbled upon this gorgeous print: Now is Now
A beautiful and concise articulation of exactly what I need to pay attention to in my life.

Of course, there will always be lists, weekly laundry to do, school lunches to make for the next day, a soup to cook for the busy week ahead, party preparations, grocery shopping....this is the stuff of life.....but in and among all that I need to take the time to enjoy the present day. To experience and revel in the now. Seize the moment in front of me and enjoy it for what it is.
To make a cup of tea and drink it hot rather than let it get cold on the kitchen counter. To go for a walk on a beautiful afternoon and leave the chores at home. To cuddle on the couch with the girls and watch a movie. To get absorbed in a project. To take some time for myself...

Because Now is Now.

This, my friends, is my direction for this new year.

Now is Now.

I've hung my print on the wall in the kitchen, an ever present reminder, and to keep my focused on this direction and to help me along, I am going to share with you photographs of my Now moments on a weekly basis...

I wish you all a wonderful day and please enjoy the little moments happening right now....

(I took all the photos in this post one afternoon when I got home from work and the sun was finally shining, seizing the moment to capture photos of a few of my favorite things.)

4 comments:

  1. What a great word. And how neat that you found that picture!! That was surely a sign! Happy New year!!

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    1. Thank you Leslie. Happy New Year to you as well.

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  2. Your picture is a lovely way to gently remind yourself to stay present. The blue yarn in your crochet photo is so pretty. Are you making a shawl?
    Lisa

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    1. Thank you Lisa. I am making a shawl...I will be doing a proper post on it soon.

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