Give Yourself A Present
Wow, long time - no blog!!! A LOT has changed since I last posted here and I'm a better person for it all. I'm in a new place with new goals and a deeper sense of who I am, how I can impact the world, and what it's all about. Personal details aside, I'm here because I've had a lot of thoughts that I've wanted to share lately and I figured this would be a good place to do that. Many of these ideas begin when I'm out running, so I thought I'd begin by sharing one I had today and that is this:
DON'T BE AFRAID TO GIVE YOURSELF A PRESENT
Now, I know that when we hear the word "present" we tend to think about gifts of the material nature - a new pair of shoes, a new book, maybe a new video game or a ticket to an upcoming event, but that's not what I'm talking about at all.
Instead of physical gifts, I would like to encourage you to give yourself the gift of time. A moment. Something that is and will never be again. After all, physical gifts come and go, but the irreplaceable nature of a solitary moment should be valued so much more.
I had this thought while running today. My mind was clogged with thoughts of work, my to-do list, random distractions and other unimportant stuff when I slowed my pace, looked at the path ahead of me and realized that this present moment was NEVER going to happen again.
When you compare that to physical gifts, it's easy to see how special that really was. Why? Well, rarity is one quality that determines a physical things value so if something is very rare it is likely to be more expensive and/or harder to obtain. With that in mind, the uniqueness of that moment was truly a ONCE IN A LIFETIME experience, so shouldn't it be an extremely valued one? After all, no matter how routine you are (and I'm about as routine as they come) or how boring you think your life is, there are numerous factors that make the moments that comprise your day unique and thereby worth giving special attention to.
I decided to soak it in - to let go of the thoughts and distractions that took me out of my present moment and to JUST BE THERE. In the present. Aware of what was around me, feeling the sun on my skin, my heart beating with each stride, and the air filling my lungs and cleansing my soul. Suddenly, I WAS THERE - in the present - and without the worries associated with my experience just moments before.
I traded anxiety for awe, tension for appreciation and truly absorbed the world around me. From the leaves swaying in an early morning Autumn breeze to the beautiful sounds of laughter coming from children in a nearby park, I developed a deep sense of gratitude for the moments that I've been given.
The wonderful thing about it is that we can choose to give ourselves a present (moment that is) at any time. Just making our minds still, embracing our surroundings and feeling a sense of appreciation for that particular, unique moment. If you're anything like me, doing so will allow your breathing to slow, your mind to grow, and your soul to know that each moment is a gift that we should never take for granted.
So, the next time you're overwhelmed with all that life throws your way, stop, slow down, and give yourself a present - you'll be glad you did!
