The Power of Now

Path In The Forest by Petr Kratochvil

While reading my horoscope this morning, or I affectionately call it, my "horror-scope" I came to the last line:

Concentrate on the power of now.

What a wonderful reminder about the importance of living in the present moment. Right now. Being present and being mindful of where I am. It's so easy to get caught up in the swirling rush of the to-do list. Or, in my case, the to-do LISTS. 

I have things to do around the house, at work, in the community, for my neighbors, in the yard, and so on and so on. If I put everything from washing the dishes to getting the oil changed in the car to attending a committee meeting down on paper, there would probably be over one hundred items on the list. 

It's just too overwhelming to think about.

And when it becomes too overwhelming, I go back to my life's motto:  "Life is an amazing journey and I will live it to the fullest".  Part of living life to the fullest is living in the moment. 

Life is not about the destination. Living life is about the journey and the sights and scenery along the way.

When I am focused on everything that went wrong yesterday or the mountain of tasks I need to complete tomorrow, I have lost sight of today. I have lost sight of now. I have lost sight of the very things that bring my joy: the sun shining through my window in the morning, the flowers blooming in my garden, the beautiful vegetables piled high at the farmer's market, the comfort of a warm quilt while I'm curled up on the couch, the love and laughter of friends and family.

Tonight, I pause on my life's journey. I take a deep breath and slowly release it as I take in the beauty of now.