This Present Moment

Yesterday, while I was at the gym I was watching some show on CNN. It was about some guy who found out in the prime of his life that he has liver cancer. Almost impossible to cure. Right before he was diagnosed he met the love of his life. They married while he was in chemo. I was tearing up while on the eliptical.

I know we all go through this at one time or another---but I was struck again, at how short life really is. Maybe this man's story hit me because he is only 41 year old. Usually, I go through my day thinking about how I hate washing the dishes, again, I hate sweeping the floor, again---the monotony just gets me. However, while I was listening to what this guy is going through---I am sure he is grateful for anyday where he feels the strenghth to do anything monotonous.

I have never had the gift of living in the present moment. I'm usually thinking about the next thing---and maybe this is one the gifts of aging, but I'm learning and enjoying being the present moment. When I think that I could be a ticking time bomb for whatever could happen in life---sickness, an accident, some mishap or misfortune---it makes me want to be in this present moment and enjoy this very day to the fullest---even if it's just sweeping the floor or picking up the same toy over and over. I am not saying I am always going to be throwing a party while I'm doing those things---but I'm going to be grateful that I can do them, that I'm healthy enough to perform monotonous tasks and have the choice to do it with a smile on my face and eventually, joy in my heart.

This is where Yoga is really helping me---learning how to practice. I have never been able to really focus enough to practice anything. I tried playing an instrument but would never practice, tried learning other languages, but I needed to practice in order to learn, again, something that I would not do. Practicing equaled work, therefore I would not do it. Now, that I am 40 I regret not practicing those things, however, it is never too late to learn how to practice being in the present moment. Everyday is a new day to start over and learn how to be calm, how to be loving, how to be joyful. Sadly, these virtues do not come easily for me.

I am glad that I caught this segment on CNN. It made me think and it made me grateful that this morning I can be sitting here on the couch typing away while the boys are playing quietly. Soon, I will be picking up a broom sweeping away, and I will be thinking that I am grateful that I'm healthy enough to perform such a task and that I have a floor to sweep! Today, I'm going to enjoy these moments emmensely!