Embrace the Moment!
“Trouble, they may come and go, but good times, they’re gold.”
- Dave Matthews
Do you ever find yourself daydreaming about the "good old days"? Maybe it’s the carefree moments of youth or the thrilling adventures from a few years back. Yet, what if I told you that the “good old days” aren’t just a thing of the past? In fact, they’re happening right now! Twenty or thirty or forty years from today, you'll likely look back and wish you could relive these exact moments, but with a newfound understanding of how to make them even better. No matter how hard things are, you will look back and remember these moments. I thought I would write about how I have slowed time down by enjoying the moment, the old “carpe diem” that Robin Williams spoke of eloquently to his students in the movie “Dead Poets Society”.
The Joy of Now
Seize the Day!
Life is full of fleeting moments that can easily slip through our fingers if we’re not paying attention. Every laugh shared with friends, every sunrise we are blessed to watch, and every new experience adds depth to our lives. Being open to these moments creates memories that will serve as the foundation for our future memories.
· Live Intentionally: Make a conscious effort to enjoy what you are doing right now. Savor your morning coffee or enjoy the struggle during a challenging workout. Don’t just “get done” with what you are doing, if you are going to do anything, make it count.
· Be Present: Put away distractions—your phone can wait! When you are out with friends, focus on the listening part of the conversations. Too often, we wait for the speaker to take a breath so we can express our opinions. Listen to understand. Ask questions and then listen some more. The people we spend time with have gifts they are trying to give us if we focus in the moment.
· Stack Your Get To’s: Plan for good things to happen and be open when unexpected gifts come your way. When we look for the good in life, we will find it, when all we can foresee are the hard times, we will miss all the good things that life provides for us.
Learning Through Living
As much as we relish these moments, it’s equally important to recognize that they’re opportunities for growth. Life is one big classroom where every experience teaches us something valuable. I am a process guy; I NEED to understand how things work. The outcome is the outcome; either it works or it doesn’t. The key is to know why it works or doesn’t work so we can improve or fix things to make things better.
· Reflect on the Experience: Take time to reflect after a fun outing or an intense work project. What went well? What could be improved? This reflection turns your current actions into lessons for future endeavors.
· Embrace Mistakes: Don’t shy away from failures; instead, embrace them! They often lead to significant breakthroughs and teach us resilience. When we learn, failures become lessons on the way to the answer. When things don’t work as planned and we quit, this is when we fail.
· Share Your Knowledge: Don’t let all of your hard work die inside your head or in a notebook that no one will look at when you are gone. When you find an answer, share it. Pass it on so others can pick up where you left off and carry the baton a little farther. Leave your mark!
Finding Balance
Too often, we compartmentalize events and opportunities in our lives. We run through life looking for the next event or interaction without taking time to reflect on what just happened. It is imperative that we find a way to balance enjoying life with being open to learning. If not, we will not be living our best lives. To ensure I am constantly moving forward, I am continually setting goals, looking for new learning opportunities, and working to improve in everything I do.
· Set Goals: While living in the moment is crucial, setting personal goals allows you to grow alongside your enjoyment. Every time I do my workouts for the upcoming week, I look back at what I lifted in the past. I take these numbers and push them forward to ensure that I continue to improve in my training. I set my goals, and then I do my work. After my workout, I measure my gains to make my next workout. This way, I am steadily improving.
· Stay Curious: Approach life with curiosity. Ask questions, seek knowledge, and be willing to explore new interests. This mindset enriches both your current experiences and future endeavors. I watch videos of other motivational speakers to “steal” bits and pieces from how they work their audience. I don’t steal subjects of words, but how do they move, how do they set up a talk, how do they start, or how do they finish a talk? I want to be the best so I will continually be curious about how the best became, and remain, the best.
· Practice Makes Perfect: If we want to improve at a task, we must practice it repeatedly. Whether finding a new movement in the weight room or mimicking a great speaker, I will always go through the motions in private, so when it comes time to perform, it will all seem natural.
Surround Yourself with Positivity
Your environment plays a crucial role in how you perceive today. Surround yourself with people who uplift you, encouraging growth while celebrating the present.
· Share Your Journey: Always be open to questions about your aspirations and experiences. Sharing stories enhances connections and often leads to valuable insights. When we are scars, we make ourselves more approachable while helping others along their path.
· Be Thankful and Pass It On: Regularly practicing gratitude transforms your outlook on life. Take note of what you're thankful for each day; this habit helps keep your focus on the positive aspects of your current situation. After you have gotten your fill, pass on your thankfulness to those you come into contact with.
· Move Away from Negativity: One of the great things about our memories is that we tend to remember the good times. If there are people who you are with now that bring darkness into your life, move on from them. In the future, you will remember the hard lessons you had to learn with these people. The most significant memory is that you got away from them before they could drag you to their level.
Living Life To Its Fullest
Always remember, the good old days are happening right before our eyes! Twenty years down the line, when nostalgia strikes again, will you look back with joy or regret? By embracing each moment while being receptive to learning from them, you're building memories that will become gifts for years to come.
Here’s your challenge: Enjoy today wholeheartedly! Savor the little things—the conversations, the fun, the hard times, the Get To’s and even some of the Got To’s. Whatever it may be, enjoy all of those moments that fill your life in the present.
As you live those moments, look deeper and understand how they came about. How could you have made them better? If we don’t take a minute to gain perspective, they become a series of photographs. But when we remember the moment AND the lesson that we learned, we have made our path in the future much easier to walk.
Remember, this is the beginning of many ‘good old days’ yet to come, and your future self will thank you for it!
Have an amazing day!
