“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” Henry David Thoreau
The last few weeks my days are filled with thoughts of the future. Wrapped up in what will happen next, I sink into forgetting what is right now. An abundance exists in the moments as they are happening. Here is what I love about right now.
Right now I love when my daughter tiptoes into my office and wraps her long, lanky arms around my shoulders and squeezes me from behind. A backward bear hug punctuated with “I love you” is the closest I will come to receiving unconditional love.
Right now I enjoy my daily phone call to my mom. She is the only person who has called me everyday of my almost forty-year-old life. That simple realization stuns me into gratitude.
Right now I sink into the poetry of the earth during my morning runs. As I gaze at the mountains, I realize that so much of their echos, lines, and beauty are a part of my own internal landscape. Sunrises and sunsets create a compass of light and dark. The reminder that time moves forward, but that the glory is in this moment.
Right now I vacillate between my disdain and joy of technology. I find comfort in checking emails, bantering with friends on text messages, and playing a midnight game of Words With Friends. At the same time I dislike, that sometimes, the Iphone is the only way to pacify my daughter during a long car ride.
Right now I know that my husband supports and cheers every professional and creative venture I decide to pursue. The freedom to be and find yourself is one of the best gifts one spouse can give to the other.
Right now I delight in making lunches, dropping off my daughter at school, and collecting every little love note and drawing that she makes for me. Right now she’s built her own treasure chest that sits atop my book shelf. It reminds me that right now are the days of her innocence and in her shire, the waterfalls drip butterflies, hearts, and peace signs.
Right now I am stronger because my connection with my sister. We share a childhood only we know and understand. And she not only loves me, but gets me.
Right now I am overcome by words. The ones I read in books, blogs, and that I discuss in my writing group. The written word is what I call home.
Right now. These days are fleeting. I grasp what I can. For that I am grateful.
IMAGE: TIME BY ALAN CLEAVER VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Right now I vacillate between my disdain and joy of technology. -I’m right there with you on that!
The gift to explore and find yourself, and the freedom to do it in your timing and way, are tremendous support of love in a spouse.
Thanks for sharing this important reminder and exercise, Rudri. I also look too much away from the present – I used to look too much into the past, and now I sometimes worry too much about the future. Having a child really drives home the importance of this point for me. They grow up so quickly – my fear is that by focusing too much on the past or present I will miss the child who is right in front of my eyes.
(I give in to the iPhone during car rides too!)
I sometimes believe the only thing that grounded me and kept me in the present were my children. Now that my nest is empty, I spend a lot of time looking back and even more time looking forward. But, today, I choose to follow your example and take time to appreciate my present and embrace “right now” .
It is truly loving when your spouse can support you so you can pursue your passion. That is one thing I can appreciate, as well – my husband is very supportive of me.
Could you please come over and delight in making my children’s lunches? I detest that chore for some reason.
But I’m going to take inspiration from you and go for a walk “right now” and appreciate the last warm day before snow.
A sweet reminder and many things to be grateful for. 🙂 It is a struggle to be in the moment when the past calls us with memories and the future holds a promise we have yet to find. Delight in all the blessings and love around you.xoxo
What a lovely, encompassing, and graceful list. These aspects of your life that you cherish tell us not only about your life, but all that you value.
Beautiful.
Right now I am so thankful to read your blog. I love the sense of peace that radiates from your words.
Right now. This is a beautiful reminder for me to. To enjoy the present and find the beauty in now.
I’m happy I found this post.