I was talking to a friend the other day about being "in the NOW", as in, paying attention to your life right now rather than worrying about what comes next, or feeling remorse about the past. My friend is an ultra-endurance athlete, and after each event, she writes amazingly detailed accounts of what she saw and how she was feeling during the event. Rather than focus on the finish line, she pays attention during the entire event.

A lot of people teach techniques for being here - now; and the implication is often that 'in the now' is the best way to live. I realize that there are distinct benefits to paying attention to what is happening right now, rather than daydreaming. It is certainly to my benefit to be aware of 'now' while I'm driving, or doing some other task that demands my immediate attention. But there are also times when dreaming of the future, or remembering the past, are also of benefit.

When my friend writes her amazing reports, she is pulling memories from her past. When I am planning some sort of trip or event, I am projecting myself into the future and trying to determine what is best suited to that future time. When I am actively involved in an event, I like to be "in the now" so that I can soak up as much of the experience as possible - thereby filling my memory banks with great stuff to recall at a later time.

So, is being "in the now" the BEST way to live? I don't think there is a 'best' that fits everyone. There is only what suits you, and what you wish to experience next. Yes, once again, there are no rules for how you must live. There are only concepts and ideas that are shared in the hopes that they can assist you in living a more fun and fulfilling life.

Live "in the now" if you wish: or live in the future, or in the past. The choice is really up to you. I'm guessing that you'll find a balance of the three that works for you. I will say that I have found little comfort in worrying about the future, or being remorseful about the past. So, I like to invest my remembrances and dreaming into the things that make life worth living.

I truly hope that you choose to be "in the now" when something amazing is happening, "in the past" when remembering the great moments of your life, and "in the future" when planning something fun and memorable. Well, that's what I'm thinking 'now'.

Namaste!
Susan

"Truth is Truth"

The other day, I heard one of my friends say; "Well, truth is truth." When I heard that statement, I couldn't help but laugh.