Living in the Moment

 

Summer is a time for family, friends, relaxation and to recharge from the Canadian winter months.  As I sit on the beautiful peaceful dock in Muskoka I write this issue.  I wasn't sure what I was going to write about and then it came to me after I finished reading an article in the this month's readers digest.  The article was an interview with Michael J Fox and he spoke about living in the moment.  What exactly does this mean, living in the moment?

 

Observing my teenage children they live in the moment each and every day, consumed by what is happening right then and now. As adults we have pockets of time where we live in the moment.  I think many of us only live in the moment when something truly amazing like birth happens, or something truly tragic like death.  

As I listen to my friend tell me about his Mother's recent diagnosis of terminal cancer, I hear and see in his voice and face how this sad news is now consuming him in this moment.  This news for me brings back a flood of memories with my own Mother's battle with cancer.  All those emotions I felt are now consuming me and my heart is going out to my friend.  This also reminds me of a colleague who is also consumed in the moment with his wife's battle with cancer.  He updates me regularly on her condition through email, and each time I read his emails those memories and emotions come flooding back and make me realize how precious life really is and that living in the moment is sometimes all we have. 

Back to the teenagers and their ability to truly live in the moment.  As we hear the news of my friends Mother's diagnosis and how she is doing, my daughter, God love her, is complaining about not being able to upgrade her cell phone since her brother used up her credits so he could get a new phone.  Now you would think that she would show a little more compassion or sympathy given that our good friend is telling us about his Mother.  I'm not sure what is going through everyone's mind at this time, but I can say that this may look like a selfish act on my daughter's part or is it?  As I ponder this thought, I remember back to the article and I guess really what is happening in the room at this moment for my daughter is an earlier conversation that has obviously consumed her thoughts, therefore blocking out my friends story and displaying my daughter's "living in the moment" experience. 

Each day we hear from friends, family,colleagues and the media different stories of what is happening right now to those around us. We are exposed each and every day to moments in time, so living in the moment is just that a "moment".  What is happening right here and right now, and just like this article after you read it you will move on to the next moment in time.  But hopefully I have at least caught your attention to embrace those moments we all experience and to remember that we all need to live in the moment every once in a while even if it is just about not being able to upgrade our phone.