"The Art of Now"

I thought I would just take the time to wish everyone a happy holiday season. I can say that my break has been anything but dull - and we haven't even left yet to visit family in Indiana (we are planning to leave in the next hour or so... Indy tonight, South Bend tomorrow).

From researching journalism grad schools to last-minute holiday shopping and gift giving, I've been a bit preoccupied. And, not to mention, I also have come to some important realizations.

Over the last week or so, it occured to me that we all too often "live in the moment." We do things because they seem cool, entertaining, or fun - at least that's the way they looked at the moment.

With these thoughts in my head, I just happened to stumble upon an article from Psychology Today - one of my favorite magazines to read from time to time. Their feature article was "The Art of Now," describing six steps to living in the moment. It perfectly sums up my approach to life, despite my sudden irritation to living "too much" in the moment.

I have always thought in order to appreciate life to its fullest, you must be able to savor every moment for what it is - nothing more, nothing less. This artice said this, too, but also explained how to do it. It emphasized the importance of conentrating on the present... not the past, not the future. Yet, at the same time, I still thought that you would have to focus a bit on both in order to appreciate what is happening at the moment (i.e., you would have to think about future consequences in order to be responsible at the moment). I suppose you don't have to dwell on them, though. Maybe just take note of them and move on, allowing you to enjoy the moment.

This article just goes to show how we all seem to make simple ideas into complex, confusing ones. Whatever is happening at the moment, embrace it. Realize it for what it is, and move on. Too often, I think that "being in the moment" can sometimes be a bad thing. I sit down at 9 p.m., talk to someone, have a delicious snack, watch tv - and all the sudden five hours has passed. Where did the time go? What could I have been doing that could have been more productive?

Life isn't simply about achieving, about being productive constantly. You have to slow down and read a good book, watch a captivating movie, or have a great conversation with someone. Or, as Psychology Today put it, "breathe."

Link to the article:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20081027-000001.html