A few months ago I was at a memorial service, and at the end the Deacon said exactly what we were all thinking, “Now what?!”
Whatever we’re in the midst of – a tough time, the loss of a loved one, or even simply the end of an activity – we often ask ourselves this question: Now what? The Deacon’s answer that day was so simple and so powerful: ‘The NOW is what.’
The past few weeks I have been trying to practice being present. And yes – it takes practice. In our culture of constant distraction most of us operate with perpetual restlessness – when was the last time you sat at a red light or waited in line without looking at your phone? I’ve noticed it as a theme with my clients and the people I’m socializing with – we’re all just waiting for what’s coming next, we're missing what's already here. The truth is, whatever is next will be made up of present moments. If we can’t learn to be present, we’ll never get to experience what’s coming.
The key, the trick, the invitation – is practicing gratitude in the present moment. Noticing what we have around us in the Here and Now, and being grateful for it. Noticing the people, the resources, the home, the life, the abundance we already have, and appreciating it fully. THAT is how we attract more of those things. Consider this for a moment…
Imagine you’re a parent, and you just served your child dinner. They look at it and shrug; ‘I guess this is okay for now, but I REALLY want dessert’. As the parent you know that you’ll give your child dessert, but only once they've eaten their dinner. Imagine your child pushes away the plate of food and just starts begging for dessert. How would that feel?
On the other hand – imagine you had served your child dinner and they showed appreciation for it and delighted in their meal. Afterwards, they thanked you and politely asked for dessert – how would you feel? In which scenario are you more likely to give the child what they are asking for?
The Creator has given us THIS moment – the people, the things, and the circumstances to enjoy and learn from. When we delight in them, appreciate them for what they are, and have gratitude for them – we are more likely to receive what we’re asking for. When we continually complain about what we don’t have, we’re likely to continue not having it. We may not be able to see the whole picture – to the child a parent’s rules about dinner and dessert may make no sense at all. Having faith in Divine intelligence is part of the process.
May you find the patience and willingness to practice being present this week, and with that, may you delight in all that you have been blessed with, and feel grateful for it.
With love and gratitude,
Robin