While driving home from work this week, I decided to call one of my dearest friends because I was having one of those days. I called but he did not answer and I decided not to leave a message. To my surprise he called back within 5 minutes and we began to chat. I love our conversations because we talk about everything…and I mean everything! He started talking about a mutual friend and his long-term relationship that was going on sixteen years. I made a reference to his relationship and said that soon his would relationship would last that long. He laughed and mentioned some advice that was given to him a few years ago. “You need to stop worrying about the future trying to make your relationship last forever. If you put that energy into making things right for right now, the rest of it will be fine. You got to focus on making every day great and something you want to stick around for.”
As we continued to talk, I mentioned that statement does not just apply to relationships but all parts of life. I arrived at home, laid across my bed and started asking myself a few questions: Why are we so eager to get to the future when we haven’t perfected the present? Why do we think the future will always be better? Why is it so hard to live in the present and respect the now? What happened to taking one day at a time? Why do we always think the grass is greener on the other side?
Let’s be honest, many of us have not perfected this part of life. We leave one relationship thinking the next man or woman will treat us better, we leave one job for a higher salary but not realizing it comes with more headaches and responsibilities, and the list goes on!
I may not have all the answers but what I have learned over the years is that I cannot control the past or forecast the future; what I can do is make the present meaningful and walk in what God is doing for me at this moment. As long as I am respecting and living in the NOW, I am open to receive the lessons and the blessings that God has in store for me. Every person or situation will bring different things into my life but I have to decide (at the moment) what I will or will not allow to occupy my thoughts, space or time. My prayer is to always get the lesson and move forward and not to make the same mistake again.
What is holding you back from living in the present?
Please share your feelings/comments. We are all in this together!
“Live in the now, the present moment is all that there is” ~ Russell Simmons