After sushi with two of my teacher friends, we sauntered over to Barnes and Noble - it's currently Educator Appreciation Week there. The door we entered led into the stationary/journals/calendars section. But from over by the registers, we heard the highest, tiniest voice shriek "Hey - look at my new necklace!" Seconds later, a little girl with the brightest, blondest hair ever pranced into our section. As she fingered the gold pendant, she began to ramble about it coming with a book that her mom just bought. After we admired her necklace and told her that we wished one would come with our books too, we walked away with "Awwwwwwwww!" smiles plastered on our faces.
"Now she's present," one of my friends observed.
At dinner we got to talking about one of my most-liked parts of Eckhart Tolle's latest book - 'A New Earth'. He touches upon the importance of being present. At this present moment, I am (trying to be) committed to letting my thoughts flow. I'm (trying) not (to be) distracted by the background noise I call TV or the motorcyclers down on Monroe. Or are they up on Peachtree? I am (trying to be) aware of the way my fingers feel as they hit the keys. Keys that still stick; four whole months after I spilled hot tea on them! I spilled the tea while in Warner Robins for the introduction to my ESOL certification courses. Warner Robins is near Macon, where my Sigma crush lives. I hope he comes up this weekend for the picnic...
Oh, back to being present.
I already know that the present is a gift. But with Eckhart's assistance, I want to begin appreciating the present; instead of using it as simply a look-out ledge into the future.
Never has Amy spoke truer words. The little girl today was so present. Mere minutes before our entrance, she most likely convinced her mother to place the necklace on her even before they actually paid for the book it accompanied. At that moment, nothing in the world was more important than that necklace; and the book ran an extremely close second. I loved how she shared the good news of the necklace with us - total strangers. (But I've always been convinced that kids naturally gravitate towards teachers.)
I know, I know - kids love when they get anything new! But I think we can all learn a lesson from her. Whether you get a new piece of jewelry or a new lease on life (read: another breath), rejoice and be present in it. Celebrate your successes and analyze your failures. Just be present and give the moment its due.
"Now she's present," one of my friends observed.
At dinner we got to talking about one of my most-liked parts of Eckhart Tolle's latest book - 'A New Earth'. He touches upon the importance of being present. At this present moment, I am (trying to be) committed to letting my thoughts flow. I'm (trying) not (to be) distracted by the background noise I call TV or the motorcyclers down on Monroe. Or are they up on Peachtree? I am (trying to be) aware of the way my fingers feel as they hit the keys. Keys that still stick; four whole months after I spilled hot tea on them! I spilled the tea while in Warner Robins for the introduction to my ESOL certification courses. Warner Robins is near Macon, where my Sigma crush lives. I hope he comes up this weekend for the picnic...
Oh, back to being present.
I already know that the present is a gift. But with Eckhart's assistance, I want to begin appreciating the present; instead of using it as simply a look-out ledge into the future.
Never has Amy spoke truer words. The little girl today was so present. Mere minutes before our entrance, she most likely convinced her mother to place the necklace on her even before they actually paid for the book it accompanied. At that moment, nothing in the world was more important than that necklace; and the book ran an extremely close second. I loved how she shared the good news of the necklace with us - total strangers. (But I've always been convinced that kids naturally gravitate towards teachers.)
I know, I know - kids love when they get anything new! But I think we can all learn a lesson from her. Whether you get a new piece of jewelry or a new lease on life (read: another breath), rejoice and be present in it. Celebrate your successes and analyze your failures. Just be present and give the moment its due.
