Biker Bar in FloridaJan sent funny image to us. How things have changed!
"Making the most of today is the only way to change tomorrow.One today is worth two tomorrows. - Benjamin Franklin"
I've been thinking about the importance (or practicality) of living in the moment, being present and aware of the now (actually, Carol got me thinking about it when she brought it up this morning). The first thing that came to my mind was that right now, this very second, we 'are' creating the future. We've already learned what we need to learn from the past (I'm sure our brains sort out each days happenings in our dreams each night), and since we're 'creating' the future, then I think it's important to keep our mind on the present, this very moment, the task at hand.
An important benefit of living in the present, is that when you do, then you don't have time to feel guilty about the past (or) to worry about the future - how can you, when you're completely focused on right now. It may be really difficult to change the way we think, but certainly worth the effort. I know I have way too many 'wasted' moments in my life, and would like to learn to get the most out of each and every one of them - to think more about what's happening now and less time thinking about what's over and done with, and about something that may never come to be.
... looked on line for techniques: "We live in the age of distraction. Yet one of life's sharpest paradoxes is that your brightest future hinges on your ability to pay attention to the present.
Life unfolds in the present. But so often, we let the present slip away, allowing time to rush past unobserved and unseized, and squandering the precious seconds of our lives as we worry about the future and ruminate about what's past. "We're living in a world that contributes in a major way to mental fragmentation, disintegration, distraction, decoherence... "
We need to live more in the moment. Living in the moment—also called mindfulness—is a state of active, open, intentional attention on the present
Everyone agrees it's important to live in the moment, but the problem is how.... When people are not in the moment, they're not there to know that they're not there. Overriding the distraction reflex and awakening to the present takes intentionality and practice." The Art of Now: Six Steps to Living in the Moment: ... a few tricks
(Vipassanā : Buddhist tradition means insight into the nature of reality.)
60 comments:
There were some interesting comments this morning on the last thread, so I'm bringing them over so no one will miss them:
Carol said...
Last evening I caught a good part of 60 minutes, Wall Street: Inside the Collapse. Took me right out of the PRESENT. I didn't mention it last night because I didn't want to ruin the mood.
They talked about these few people who saw that collapse coming and got disgusting wealthy. One, was a guy with one good eye and Aspbergers. You can't tell me he was on top of this and all the companies involved didn't know all about what was happening.
The problem is there were many who knew and were most likely sucking wealth out of the system. They were surfing the big wave so no one was going to do anything to stop it. And many involved probably knew the government would have to bail out these companies and we'd be paying for it.
And those bonuses. We rewarded those idiot/robbers. There is no doubt in my mind that people in the government knew what was going on also. They were, also, most likely padding their nest eggs with our money.
March 15, 2010 3:41:00 AM PDT
Carol said...
The people should be OUTRAGED/riot in the street if some sort of meaningful regulatory reform is not put into place. The right keeps screaming about socialism but instead we are handing our paychecks over to the Wall Street and the government bailing them out.
Staying in the present is a really neat concept but can be dangerous. If we don't worry about the future, we don't get anything done.
March 15, 2010 3:58:00 AM PDT
Coreen said...
I was wondering if you had watched the 60 Minutes Wall Street piece...unfortunately it
seems that there is really no significant change in the near future...when you listen to
how easily the entire finanical system was manipulated it is frustrating...
March 15, 2010 5:10:00 AM PDT
jan said...
Carol, thanks for the info on 60 minutes last night. I didn't watch it. I get most of my news here at the swamp. If I see anything on TV at night that disturbing, I won't sleep. That already happened to me Friday night - so could not miss another night. Thanks for keeping us all informed here.
March 15, 2010 8:22:00 AM PDT
I'm going to link some pictures I enjoyed viewing this morning the first one is of a new born elephant: photos
Came back to drop this off (in case Carol wants to go someplace a little cooler to fish):
NASA finds shrimp dinner on ice beneath Antarctica
http://www.mail.com/Article.aspx/science/0/APNews/Science/20100315/U_US-SCI-Antarctica-Sea-Life?pageid=1
... and forgot to say that Emma is taking 9 or 10 steps (or more) by herself over the last several days. She's finally interested in walking - is working on her balance, and I don't think it will be long before it's full time. It's about time! She's fourteen months old today. And cute as can be.
.. we saw a woman yesterday holding her grand baby boy yesterday, and asked her how old he was and she said 6 months. And he was about the same size as Emma. I'm constantly get comments about her size, usually that she's petite.
Jan, I saw your post (I think it was from yesterday) that you had a good time at your son's birthday party, and got to spend more time with your new ggrandbaby. Glad to hear that things are going so well for you. Sounds like your son is really enjoying being a grandpa.
Chloe, this is a wonderful post and so appropriate for now. John and I did a "mindfulness" workshop in the fall. John mediates daily, but I have a difficult time "meditating" I am real fidgity and can't keep my brain/mind on the present. One thing I learned from the workshop is to be "free of judging" where I am in the process. It is ok to be fidgity and when my mind wanders just bring it back to the present. We are such a judgmental culture. We judge ourselves and others so harshly. In the mindfulness tradition, we can dispense with judgment. I love that.
John meditates - not mediates.
Chloe, I think little Abigail will be petite like your Emma. How wonderful that Emma is taking steps on her own. Listen closely, I am clapping my hands for her and saying "Yaaay Emma."
And Chloe, yes - things are going very well now.
Nice post Chloe. I'm one who can take a good concept and turn it bad. Living in the present, good, gives me an excuse to avoid several unpleasant responsibilities.
I wonder if anyone else is playing catch up from living in the present this weekend. I've been working on my income taxes, something I should have done this weekend. They are due in to the accountant. I think I might have a good handle on that chaos now. I wish they just had a flat tax. Take what they must but don't make me go thru all this garbage to figure out what I might be able to deduct from my income. I'm quite sure I'll be paying more than my fair share.
It's almost 8:30 which is really only 7:30 and it feels like it's 9:30. Boy am I confused. I need to go to bed early and hope I feel normal tomorrow.
Carol, my sentiments exactly. It is 10:30 here. Usually at this time, I am turning over to go to sleep.
That article you linked Chloe is full of good stuff. Stuff that will take me weeks to ponder. Stuff I need to ponder and practice.
"As Mark Twain said, "I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened." The hallmark of depression and anxiety is catastrophizing—worrying about something that hasn't happened yet and might not happen at all."
This one right here is the story of my life. I have spent so much of my life catastrophizing. And if I try not to do this, there is usually someone else who will try to make me.
"As Mark Twain said, "I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened." The hallmark of depression and anxiety is catastrophizing—worrying about something that hasn't happened yet and might not happen at all."
Carol, Thanks for quoting that - i don't know why I missed it. What a great word that is: catastrophizing. - you've given me plenty to think about today (something other than worrying).
That quote from Mark Twain say's is all. We live in a pretty scary world (of our own making) sometimes.
... and Jan and Carol, I agree with you about this time change. I hate it. It takes me a good month to get used to it every year, but even then, it makes no sense to me.
I'm enjoying reading the comments, but will probably be "scarce" again as far as posting. Went to the "shoulder man" Monday. He gave me a big old "horse shot" right into the shoulder. Now it aches from the shot. Today I go for an MRI with results due on Thursday. Between time changes and restlessness, I feel ready for a nap shortly after I wake up. I need a shot of adrenaline. lol
Ivy,
If you got a "horse shot" in your shoulder, you will probably feel like you got a shot of adrenalin. I'm sure he injected a steroid which usually gives you alot of energy. I hope you find out what's wrong with it with the MRI.
Chloe,
Love your post. I am so happy that Emma is taking more steps. Give her a big hug and kiss for me.
Thanks, Mary. I'll take any hope I can get. Sometimes I just hope for hope, and that works for the moment. Maybe it's just the time clock change that has me "draggin' A" because I don't have the energy surge yet. I went out and got an over hair-due color and cut this a.m., and now I'm off the the MRI department. I'm sure I'll be whooped by 3 pm. lol
...over-DUE hair DO, not hair-DUE, but they both apply...see what I mean? I can keep my thoughts in order today!! lol
I WISH I could keep my thoughts in order today! I have to get out on the highway now...I better pay extra attention...
Ivy, mine are always hair dues. I haven't had a haircut on time.....maybe ever. I don't believe in planning ahead. I guess that is one time when I live in the present. When I notice my hairs looks like crap, I think about making an appointment. It takes some time to actually make an appointment because I can't get time to call and make it. Then when I finally do that, my hairdresser is usually on holiday. I'm usually at least 3-4 weeks into the, gag me with a spoon, look before I get the appointment.
Also, I knew you were going to get the "big shot" when you went to the Ortho. Injecting joints is one of their favorite activities. Probably get a big reimbursement on them.
I've even injected shoulders before. Did they add any numbing stuff with the cortisone? That should have given you a day of comfort before the cortisone kicked in. Now don't you go pitching any softball games after that injection, or doing push ups, or wrestling with Hubs. Strenuous activity after a cortisone injection into a joint can cause you to rip a tendon.
No carrying grocery bags, lifting pot or pans, strenuous dishwashing, or housework. You can pet the dogs and type. OK? NP orders. You can read also, if Hubs holds your book and maybe the dogs should just pet you.
How did you like that knocking sound in that MRI machine or did you have to go into that tube. When I had my MRI or my thoracic spine they stuffed me head first into that tomb. I kept my eyes closed so I wouldn't freak out. Whatever you do, do not open your eyes.
After they greased me up and stuffed me into that tube, I felt like everyone left the room. I was sure that they had evacuated and left me there alone. I called out and no one answered. They said, just call if you need anything, so I tested it out to see if it would work and no one answered. There is not even enough room in that tube to have a full blown anxiety attack, maybe just a quarter blown attack. I think I went over that quarter.
Ivy, sorry to hear you are still suffering with your shoulder problem...hope you get some
relief from the cortizone shot soon...
Take Dr. Carol's advice and do as little as possible, though I know that is easier said than done...
Finally, today started out ok, but it turned into a really beautiful spring day...sunny, about 63, only a bit of a breeze(but I was in my office all day, at least I opened my windows)....spring is almost ready to greet us...after the horrible weekend noreaster....my aunt & some friends
had no electricity for 2+ days, lots of tree damage to the power lines still around....
A sure sign of spring arriving...this p.m. the treefrogs are chirping loudly in the wetlands.....
And Chloe, speaking of catastrophizing, since my little Ruby Throated hummer hasn't come home yet, I was thinking that maybe he met his demise on the trip to or from his winter migration area. You know that is a treacherous journey they have to make and they are just itty bitty little birds.
I was feeling very sad yesterday thinking that that might be the case. I bet no one else here thought about that did ya?
Coreen, I didn't see you slip in. I'm so glad you didn't get that much damage at your place. Was it scary? Almost like having a hurricane. Sorry about your aunt and friends. That living without electricity is hell but when it comes back you will certainly appreciate it for a while.
I'm glad Spring has finally sprung for ya.
Who's watching American Idol? Siobhan from Cape Cod, MA is perfect for St. Paddy's Day...she's a little leprechaun...she could win!
Siobhan is the Gaelic version of the name "Judith." I venture that from memory, not from looking anything up, so I could be wrong...
I can't wait to hear comments about American Idol tonight. There were some that I totally disagreed with the judges about. Jan and whoever else watches let me know what you think.
Ivy, I can't believe you commented while I was writing my comment. I thought Tim Urban sounded good with his version of Under My Thumb. It was a little Reggae but I like that type music. The judges didn't like it.
Thanks to Nurses Carol and Mary for the shoulder support. The MRI wasn't too bad. At the last second before entering "the tunnel," I had the presence of mind to ask for an eye cover. She had a little tissue or paper towel thing for me. It was better than nothing, but I found myself wishing I'd brought along my own little sand-and-herb filled eye bag that I use for yoga Savasana ("nap time.") My only mistake was taking a second to "peek" through the tissue and realizing I was in a modified coffin. Maybe cremation is not such a bad thing after all in case you're not really dead. lol
I don't think hitting the oven before you're dead is a great plan either Ivy.
Ivy, I was going to tell you to tell them to put a washcloth over your eyes. I've had to have many MRI's and they still have to put something over my eyes. And I make sure I can't see thru it.
My MRI-lady was so bubbly and talkative. She was a hoot! She ran through all her offerings of music for my headphone-distraction. She got to the end and I asked, "You got the Blues??" Her jaw dropped, and she said, oh yes, we got BB King and Eric Clapton. I said, "I'll take them!" First selection was, "Riding with the King." I love that one. On TM, C-Bob links the John Hiatt You Tube of it regularly, as it's one of his favorites. The knocking and banging of the MRI machine kept almost perfect time with the beat...it was a completely distracting choice. I don't think it would have worked as well with Classical.
Carol,
True, but you'll have less time to think about it...
Ivy, Are you feeling the effects of the cortisone yet. Has it helped the shoulder pain? I know I've had alot of them in my back and they usually help a great deal. In fact, that's probably the only time I'm pain free.
Jan,
Are you the one who nicknamed Christal "Bobbysox?" My bro though that was a hoot. My brothers always end up giving the contestants sarcastic nicknames...we have weird humor in our family...but I am looking forward to her performance...are they saving her for last?
Ivy, Jan doesn't see the show until an hour later than we do.
Mary,
I have increased mobility, but still sore in some places. I meant to ask you expert-guys how long are the effects of the cortisone? I'm worried by the time the injection site soreness wears off, so will the "magic."
Mary,
I always have to remember that with my bro's too, 'cuz they are in Mountain Time as well. It's just performance night; I will be more discreet on results night. Hubs always has to hold off with them on "24" night too...and Jack Bauer is serious business...
The "magic" should last longer that the soreness. Usually when the steroid kicks in, my soreness from the injection goes away. You should have relief for at least a couple of weeks or more.
Ivy, they use a long acting steroid which can last a week or two. Varies from person to person. May get some moving again which also helps. These weather changes can aggravate these joint conditions.
Carol,
That is reassuring to know...
The judges were not too wild about Bobbysox tonight, but it's clear they want her to stay in the running...
Is anyone else watching the new NBC drama 'Parenthood?" I have not had a drama to keep me engaged in a long time. I'm going to give this one a chance. It is misnamed; I hope that's not a deterrent to wide-enough viewership. It should be named "Familyhood" or something of a broader description. My main reason for not allowing myself to get involved in series dramas anymore is because they yank them off so quick. My involvement often proves to be a show's kiss of death.
My favorite quirky drama-comedy was an NBC show of numerous years ago called, "Ed." It had a fairly good run, but for me, it was lost too soon. They seem to have forsaken these kinds of interesting shows for the reality-genre which, except for Idol, I do not favor. And I am the only person in my extended family who disdains "24." It's just too loud.
Oh yes, the topic...
"Today I see that all of life, love, wisdom and God are contained i each moment. There is nowhere to go, nothing to do and no one to be. All that I require to be a saint or sage is alive in the here and now. In fact, the here and now is the only place that is alive. It is my access to all that is infinite and all that is life. When I look for life in the past or the future, it is simply not there because all things remain in the moment, the point where my own being intersects with the forces of all life. I experience it through my senses, and I know it though my soul."
~ "Daily Affirmations for Forgiving & Moving On," Tian Dayton, Ph.D., p. 306
The pome they put with this essay is..."To see a world in a grain of sand..." lol
Couple of typos, but you get it...lol
Hi Folks, I have a powerful headache tonight, but managed to get through Idol. I thought Sioban (sorry for slaughtering her name, from now on going to call her Judith-thanks to Ivy). I think Judith and Bobbisox are the best contestants so far. I do like the cute guy with long blonde hair. Judith blew me away tonight. I think Bobbisox is the reincarnation of Janis Joplin.
Has anyone seen the replaying of all the Ed Sullivan shows with the British bands from the 1960's. It was on our non-commercial channel last week. I taped it. It is great.
Ivy, your brothers sound like a hoot.
Ivy, I like Parenthood too. It reminds me a little of Modern Family - but more serious.
Chloe, I bet little Emma is walking a few more steps every day. You Go Emma.
Mary, I didn't quite get Aaron's song. Somewhere I missed Reggea (probably spelling it wrong too). I could not believe that Lilly got kicked off last week. She was probably a little too unique for the viewing audience.
Ivy, I am sorry to hear your shoulder still hurts. It must be good to have some relief.
Jan,
Thanks for the sympathy, and I hope your headache subsides too. I have been taking Extra Strength Tylenol (along with my daily Celebrex.) I hope I am not over-medicating. Even so, I still have enough pain to be bothersome. I take one or two Tylenol. Somebody suggested it's okay to take three, but I have not given myself license to do that.
There is no Gaelic-name that is not "slaughtered." None of the pronunciations go with the traditional spellings. That is why there are so many dozens of variations on nearly every Irish or Scottish name. Even "Patrick" is not really spelled that way...it's something like Paidrigh...amazingly though, they almost always sound like the phonetic spellings. One of my favorite names is "Maeb" which is pronounced "Mave." There's something about flip-flopping the "b" or "bh" for a "v" sound. I do not know where they got Judith out of Siobhan, however. Maybe there's a true Irishman who can step forward and 'splain it all to us? It's almost St. Patrick's Day. Even if you don't wear green, be sure not to wear orange unless you are deliberately spitting in their eye. lol
Am I the only weird person here who likes to read lists of things, including names and their meanings? I have a whole book of Celtic names for dogs...the list is a hoot and one of my favorite reference books. lol
Happy St Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish go with you today. Were the Irish lucky?
Looks like, maybe, that cortisone kicked in, huh Ivy?
Speaking of steroids, I can tell there's pollin in the air. If anyone has those pesty allergy problems it might be time to start hitting your steroid nasal spray. Of all the things used to treat allergies, I am a fan of those steroid nasal sprays. They kind of decrease that war that goes on in your nasal passages which can give you all sorts of other problems.
If one of the drug companies would just make one that is cheap enough, they could get a lot of business.
Looks like the next three days will be nice Spring days for our peeps up north. Enjoy them!
Neti pot for allergy relief...Oprah and Dr. Oz Rx...you can't go wrong.
Ancient Wisdom
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