ENJOYING THE MOMENT
It's Harder Than It Seems
John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

January 13, 1999



Stop for a minute and just listen. Stop whatever you're doing. Stop reading this text.
Just listen.





That silence you might have heard (depending on where you are) is special. It's special because we take too little time in our lives to stop and listen to it. We get caught up in school, in work, in our families or friends, in whatever... and before you know it, a whole day has gone by.

Or week.

Or month.

Or year.

When you're young, you don't notice the time as much as you do as you get older. It's not that time flies when you're having fun (although some might argue that younger people have more fun than older folks). It's that time simply doesn't matter as much when you're young. Today, tomorrow, two weeks from now. It doesn't matter. It seems to actually slow down (especially when you're in class)!

But as we get older, time does seem to speed up. Of course, all of this talk about time is simply a matter of our perceptions. Time is constant; it neither speeds up nor slows down. But as we experience this perception of a speed-up in time as we age, we also seem to lose track of time itself. It's almost as if we're so busy living our lives, we forget to stop and appreciate the lives we are living.

Taking things for granted seems to be the norm, and taking time for granted is probably the most common thing we do. I suppose it's not a horrible thing to lose track of time over weeks or months, or even years, if your life is that good and fulfilling. Few people's lives are that perfect, though.

But a quiet moment once in a while can help a person take stock of their lives, reflect, and appreciate the moment for what it is -- simply a moment in time that we are all lucky to be alive. (For instance, fifty years ago, it would be difficult to travel by plane from one place in the country (or world) to another. Computer communication was all but unheard of. Today, we can be grateful that we have so much greater access to resources, information, and help than we have ever had in the past.)

So if you do nothing else this month, take a few minutes one day to peacefully and simply reflect.

Enjoy the moment while it lasts, though, for it passes far too quickly.

http://psychcentral.com/archives/n011899.htm

quote:

Stop for a minute and just listen. Stop whatever you're doing. Stop reading this text.
Just listen.

***********************************************

Practice will improve relaxation over time.
A relaxed state of mind will allow us to be at peace with ourselves and with the rest of the world.

I stopped to listen.

The soft whir of the fan
Blowing life-giving air....
A car passed by
It's tires whishing on the pavement...
Little ticks and creaks...
The sounds of home.

quote: Originally posted by dear Inda: Practice will improve relaxation over time. A relaxed state of mind will allow us to be at peace with ourselves and with the rest of the world.

Love and ***LIGHTNESS***, Teo Do (Re, Mi, Fa, Soul...)

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.
"Be a beginner, empty your mind of answers, and learn to live and love the questions."

Suzuki Roshi

Enjoy the Moment....
Waking up at four AM...
I slip quietly out the door
Under the early morning stars...
Feeling the ground beneath bare feet
And the cool air on my skin...
I raise my arms to the sky
And feel Life
Flow around and through me
And know that
Life is still good.

Nice post. Thank you yoko.

When I walk in the moment I try and let go of all thoughts that tend to fill my mind. I just try and concentrate on the beauty of nature, the flowers, the trees, the birds and whatever else nature still can offer us.

Love,
Sue

Thank you for your nice and very much needed post yoko.
If we are at peace and let our minds rest we will feel more peaceful towards the rest of the world.

Love
Vicky

I am enjoying the post and the replies.
Thank you for starting the nice thread yoko.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Lao Tzu said: "Silence is a source of great strength."

IN THE MOMENT......

Sunday morning I walked past my Grandson as he was sleeping. It stopped me in my tracks. I stood there looking at that picture of innocence and could hardly breathe. In the moment? Captured by it would be a better way to put it.

Since I have been home from the hospital I have started walking around outside while I have my morning coffee. As I enjoy these little morning walks, I see things I never saw before. Mushrooms with bright orange caps (highly poisonous I'm sure, but quite beautiful in the grass) grape vines climbing through the trees, a wild rosebush with rose hips ripening, violets growing up in the shade. But even more than the individual things I have seen, I've come to realize that each part of the yard around the apartment building has a distinct personality and to alter the direction of my walk to suit my mood. I've lived here for three years and never knew these things.

quote:

Originally posted by dear losgann:
...As I enjoy these little morning walks, I see things I never saw before. Mushrooms with bright orange caps (highly poisonous I'm sure, but quite beautiful in the grass) grape vines climbing through the trees, a wild rosebush with rose hips ripening, violets growing up in the shade. But even more than the individual things I have seen, I've come to realize that each part of the yard around the apartment building has a distinct personality and to alter the direction of my walk to suit my mood. I've lived here for three years and never knew these things...

Beautiful story Susan

Strange how we HAVE TO MAKE THE TIME to see what is right in front of us already sometimes!

I'm glad for every second of reading your wonderful story though!
Thanks for taking the time to share!

Love and *LIGHT* *BEING* , Teo Do (Re, Mi, Fa, So, LaaAAAA!!!!)

This is a very nice thread.
Thank you all for your lovely contributions.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day routine. Let us just enjoy the day, the moment, the joy. Everyday is a good one, it’s all about how we look at it. We all have the choice to decide how we are going to manage our day.

As losgann mentioned, there are many beautiful things that surround us every day, and many of them we have never noticed.

Dear Givnologists,
I appreciate all your replies and lovely images.
Let us appreciate the gift of every moment.

Love,
yoko

Four Seasons Inlaid Wood Screen
From Korea