The regularly scheduled post for tonight has been preempted so Mantra can bring you what she thinks compliments Clyde’s Friday idea. If you are not clear on what that means, stop by the SEP and skip down to Clyde. When you get to the end, we will be right here waiting for you.
See how quick that was? The SEP closed with a pretty powerful challenge. Mantra may have had a hand in derailing Clyde’s Wednesday idea to move this particular poem up in the schedule from late July.
The crux of the challenge is to squeeze as much life out of our time as we can. Find accomplishment in finishing things…even chores. Find enjoyment in the everyday things…like the music we hear around us. Find friendship…you never know how well you are going to like someone until you ask them about themselves.
In order to enjoy now, you have to do two things.
1. Stop living in the past.
This is a lot like trying to race a funny car using only the rearview mirror. The short form: You are going to crash.
No, do not forget your past…it made you who you are today. But do not spend your life measuring what you have/are now against a yardstick which is 15 (seconds, minutes, weeks, years) beyond its expiration date. Just as important: Do not spend all your time blaming your lack of now on someone or something in your past. Wait. Stop.
Whose past? Yes, your past. Not the someone or something’s past. Your past. To quote Pumbaa:
Put your behind in the past.”
2. Stop living for the future.
If you have been promised a future 15 (seconds, minutes, weeks, years), you have been conned. Let’s look at a few now wasters:
- Working all of your waking hours.
- Scheduling all your waking hours.
- Failing social engagements (this means dinner with your children) for the above.
- Pursuing advancement to the exclusion of all else.
- Hoarding wealth (successfully or not) for an overindulged retirement.
(The last statement does not mean stop saving for emergencies or retirement. It means do it in moderation.)
When you are frittering away now in favor of living (better, wealthier, _________er) in the future, you are missing something.
NOW
The Present
All it takes is a little imagination
To see there is more than meets the eye.
Rip off the melancholy wrapper and see
The kaleidoscopically coated present.
Yes. Present.
The time you have is a gift.
It is short and finite and now.
Right now is the only now ever.
The present only lasts for but a moment.
Your present.
It is unique because no one else has one,
Not like the one which will become
The memory of the future, your past.
Is this what you want to look back on?
This present.
Mold it. Shape it. Sculpt it. Refine it.
You are making history. Build it.
Today is the foundation. Level it.
All it takes is a little imagination.
Our present.
Is your cornerstone parallel to the square
Or is it perpendicular to the inane?
Move this way, a bit closer to the center.
Have you thought of a name for the monument?
The present.
Be it castle, tower, barn or palace,
Tree house, tent, motor home, submarine.
Build it strong and individual, real,
So the memories bring you enjoyment.
A present.
260620120247
Is your present memorable? Are you living in the now or the past or the future? Name something off your bucket list. Can you spend now eradicating one of the excuses why you are not doing it?
C. Brown
/ July 2, 2012I love Pumbaa.
C. Brown recently posted..So The Storm Is Over
Red
/ July 2, 2012He is one of my favorite characters as well. Good to see you tonight!
Bearman
/ July 2, 2012Pumbaa has a lot of behind to put in the past.
Bearman recently posted..Democrats and Justice Roberts
Red
/ July 2, 2012I think that is true for a lot of us 😉
Deb
/ July 2, 2012I’m enjoying my present because I’m right where I want to be…here reading your post and saying, “Hi Red, I hope your have a wonderful day!” I’ve never been one to fall victim of living in the future because I have always believed that the future is a myth.
Great post as always, Red!
Have a great present!
Love ya!
Hugs xx
Deb recently posted..I’m Still Hungry!!
Red
/ July 2, 2012LOL! Love you and your attitude, Deb! I hope you are having a wonderful evening as well! {HUGZ} Red. xxx
Cat Forsley
/ July 2, 2012NOW – 🙂
The Now is beautiful 🙂
this Now
and the next Now …..:)
The present is beautiful just as it is 🙂
love you
xx
Cat
Cat Forsley recently posted..Tuning out the Harsh …and Only Keeping the Softness Cat Forsley ©
Red
/ July 2, 2012Great to see your cheery self this NOW, Mon Chat doux. Love you oodles, Red. xxx
Cat Forsley
/ July 2, 2012Now is always cheery 🙂
Hey we are breathing
that’s the beginning of everything gratitude 🙂 xoxoxoxo
love and extreme good sleepiness xoxooxoxo
goodnight Lady Red o Love xo
Cat Forsley recently posted..Tuning out the Harsh …and Only Keeping the Softness Cat Forsley ©
Red
/ July 2, 2012Bonne nuit et doux reves. Xxx
Binky
/ July 2, 2012Guilty, guilty. I could do a lot better living in the present.
Binky recently posted..Party Time Job
Red
/ July 2, 2012Start now.
Matt
/ July 2, 2012Beautiful poem!
To live in the present is, for me, the key to happiness. Regretting the past and being fearful of the future is what what prevents a lot of people from living life to the fullest.
~ Matt
Matt recently posted..Living Life, Abundantly at L’Arche Ireland
Red
/ July 2, 2012Thank you, Matt. You are very right about the fear factor.
MJ Logan
/ July 2, 2012Today is yesterday’s future
and tomorrow’s past.
Live like today is the rest of your life and you’ll have few regrets.
Life is an adventure. Live it to the max, but remember to keep your bags packed, cuz you never know when you’re making the big trip.
I have only one thing left on my bucket list, a raft trip down the Yukon River. Takes four months and you have to build your own raft. Not sure if I’ll manage that ever, but I dream of it.
MJ
MJ Logan recently posted..The Bay
Red
/ July 2, 2012I have had to start a new bucket list twice. That is a cool thing to have on your bucket list, though…
prenin
/ July 3, 2012I’m having connection problems so fingers crossed this posts!!! 🙂
I got out of hell by creating targets to achieve one day at a time.
My current target is new furniture.
Not second hand (as I’ve always had), but new.
That’s two years from now – with luck! 🙂
Meantime I’m concentrating on the second book which is developing well and enjoying life.
On Thursday Pat and I will get together and celebrate our birthdays, mine is on the 6th and Pats is on the 10th or 11th (Too many birthdays to remember makes me confused!) and have a good time.
Pat, Neil and their kids were the family I could not have and I spent 35 years looking after them, eventually finishing my last task by helping Emily through University and seeing her become a teacher, then housewife and mother to a girl called Isabella and a boy called William.
Her siblings, including my God daughter Becky, have also had children and Pat is being run ragged looking after them all as an unpaid babysitter so no doubt the kids will be there when we celebrate! 🙂
Some things are good to look forward to… 🙂
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
prenin recently posted..Sunday – A trip to the church.
Red
/ July 3, 2012Pren, you are firmly living in the now. And you have a special birthday…you share it with my grandfather. It shall be easy for me to remember. Your books are good at helping you stay in the now. They are a good way to connect with the moment of creativity. Furniture is a good goal, which gives you balance. Giving a small portion of now to the future is healthy because it shows you have developed long term survival skills (and why I put the caveat about saving for emergencies and retirement). {HUGZ} Red.
prenin
/ July 3, 2012Which is why I’m so darned careful with money! LoL!!!
Back when I was on Income Support I had precious little and anything I saved lasted only until the next big bill.
Today I have more latitude, but the hard lesson has been well learned! 🙂
Sometimes its nice to need something and know that the money is there for it! 🙂
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
Red
/ July 3, 2012Do click on the emergency link in the post. It may give you some ideas which you have never thought of before. Most all of them are designed for people with limited income. {HUGZ} Red.
Lizzie Cracked
/ July 3, 2012oh…. I needed this today.,.yesterday but now works. I have been completely immersed in the now and feeling horribly guilty about it… doing whatever moves me at the moment instead of what I should be.. except that I told myself I would keep to myself until the things that needed done were done then let my whimsy take me where it wanted and missed connecting with those I care about.. so .. I feel ok that I am in the now.. but bad I ignored the should to the point of not reaching out .. I am sure there is a balance in there somewhere.. the past.. is gone.. I don’t remember all the minutes or dwell constantly on it..sometimes yes..it comes back.. but I seem to be in the now just fine for the moment 🙂
Hugs ((( <3 )))
Lizzie
Lizzie Cracked recently posted..Gratitude is Not That Hard, Mid-Afternoon Mental Moment
Red
/ July 3, 2012“Should”. Funny you mention that…How often are you the “should be”-er? We both know it is about balance. We visit the past to remember why we do not do things and how much we enjoyed other things. We look to the future to set reasonable goals. We enjoy the now to marry the past and the future. <3 {HUGZ} Red. xxx
Valentine Logar
/ July 3, 2012You bully!
Kidding
Love the poem and the reminder of the need to live in the now. Something I have a very difficult time doing now and then (most times).
My past at times destroys me and my future scares the tar out of me.
This is why I love you.
Valentine Logar recently posted..Growing up Texas-My Fathers Story
Red
/ July 3, 2012You live in the middle where many people are. Love you, too, sis. <3