"Be here, be now" Or at least give it a try!

“Be here, be now”

A lot of us have hear that saying, but it’s surprising what the majority of folks think it means. Based on conversations with people, a good portion seem to think it means to “pay attention” to what you’re doing. And that’s a partial definition.

The deeper meaning, (and I say “be here, be now” to my wife about twice a week) is living in the now. I know there’s a few readers who are saying “I always know what I’m doing, and exactly where I’m at”, however, it’s more than that. Much more. We tend to go through the motions of our everyday activities, and take a lot for granted, and I believe that’s something that we’re all guilty of at one time or another. It may be just a trip to the grocery store, or a night out at one of our favorite places, and we know the route to get there, so we just go, thinking on the way about tomorrows list: what time to set the alarm, how early do I have to leave?, what should we have for dinner on Friday?

Although all of these things do warrant some thought, being here and now means just that. If we spend all, or even a good portion of our time planning the next week, day, or even moment, then how can we enjoy now? I’m not a Yogi or a monk, just a guy making his way along the path, trying to share a few things I’ve learned along the way, and as I get older, I realize that by sharing life lessons that we can really help each other along the way, just by sharing a story, or advice. Sharing is highly underrated these days, and it doesn’t cost much, and the great part is that you can take it or leave it.

I watch our soon to be 3 year old with constant amazement, and his observations never cease to make me truly smile. He looks at everthing so fresh and new,and lives for that moment, even if he’s been to the same park, store, or walked the same sidewalk a hundred times, he’s right here, and right now. I’m learning so much just from watching him, and one thing I’m learning is that I want to do everything I can to preserve that for him, to encourage it.

I know they’ll always be planning that he has to do as he gets older, but I hope that he always has a little bit of his little self as a toddler leftover. To be wherever he is.