Stop! Close your eyes, take a deep breath and breathe in the moment. Go on, take a moment out of your day, live it and breathe it.
That’s the topic of my Micro Mondays this week – Living in the Moment. You can listen to the full episode HERE.
Living in the moment can be difficult. Life can get overloaded, we can get caught up in a cycle of regret as we look back and conversely can wish our lives away planning for the future.
I’m guilty of not doing this and at the moment we are going through some issues related to my MIL’s estate which is causing stress and anxiety to my husband, which then flows to me. Life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns but for our well-being we need to make time for moments of joy and just ‘being present’ and experiencing that moment.
My grandsons, Ethan and Elliot help to ground me and are a constant reminder to me to live in the moment. During the recent school holidays we spent time exploring, baking and just having fun. Children don’t have filters, they don’t think about the future (unless it is getting excited about their birthdays or Santa Claus) they just live life experiencing that moment in time. And the wonderful part is that most of the time it is the simple things they enjoy, which as we get older we take for granted.
How my grandsons and I enjoyed living in the moment during the holidays
We spent two hours making a lovely mess but having fun baking and decorating cookies.
We spent hours on an adventure in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. This is a perfect outing for children so I’ll write a separate post later.
We spent time at the park climbing, playing hide-and-seek and of course, my favourite having a swing.
There is certainly nothing wrong with creating memories which we can revisit and cherish. That is different to looking back on life with regret or not letting go and living life with limiting beliefs. If we aren’t living in that moment, we lose the opportunity to create those memories. It’s a bit like taking lots of photos when travelling but not really taking in the beauty of what you are seeing. You miss the moment.
5 benefits to living in the moment
- It reduces stress and anxiety
- It promotes gratitude
- It ensures we are ‘being’ and experiencing life rather that being caught up in the ‘busyiness’ of life and missing the special moments.
- It creates memories to cherish
- It brings clarity to overcome obstacles we are facing
5 ways to start living in the moment today
- Take time to meditate or have your own version of quiet time. It relaxes and clears our mind and we are present just in that moment.
- Spend some time with children or relive some of the activities you loved doing as a child.
- Take in a sunrise or sunset and appreciate the beauty around you
- Call a friend and have a chat
- Take time out to get lost in a book.
Are you looking back with regret or spending too much time planning for the future, rather than living in the moment?
Will you try one or all of the five suggestions I’ve given you? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you are living in the moment.
Linking up with week with #lifethisweek over on Denyse Whelan Blogs.
21 Comments
Great words and lovely photos Sue. I love seeing these happy moments – you all look so happy and making beautiful memories together. the boys are so lucky to have you as their Nan.
A gorgeous post! Thanks for the tips too.
Hi Sue, Sorry to hear about the stress you and Mike have been experiencing. I hope everything is resolved to your satisfaction. You captured your joyful moments with your grandsons very well in your photos. Your five suggestions are excellent. This morning (Sunday in Toronto), I savoured my coffee, greeted the new day with gratitude, and went cycling for about 2 hours to see the city waking up. It was wonderful. Wishing you a great week! #lifethisweek
Lovely, joyful photos. I’m struggling (as you know) a tad with the living for now bit as it’s all a tad same same & not the sort of same same I’m overjoyed about. Having said, even the blahs can be pushed aside by consciously taking some minutes to just be. And that’s the best part of sunrises.
Love your photos Sue. Great to see you making memories with your grandchildren. I’m still desperate to see my grandchildren. It’s been 20 months now and the way covid is going will be a long while yet before I can get up to Qld.
Great words and thoughts, Sue – I struggle with staying in the moment, but my recent trip to look after my two grandchildren and your article has reminded me of that.
Hi Sue – nothing beats the sheer joy of grandchildren – they are so spontaneous and need so little to be truly happy with themselves……and I think they help us to remember what it is to have those child-like qualities. I’m glad they give you a break from the stress and a chance to just be Nan for a while. Hang in there with the estate stuff, and sometimes I think it’s good to remind ourselves of what’s really important and whether it’s worth letting someone else drag us down for months and months – I always think of Dr Phil and his saying “is it better to be right or to be happy?” Good luck with it all and I hope it all resolves soon xxx
Your blogs are so full of life-in-the-moment energy. You are SO lucky to have the physical contact and those happy moments. For me, contact with my granddaughter and new great-grandson in Italy has only been virtual but I treasure those moments also.
Thanks Judith. My life isn’t always life-in-the-moment but it definitely is when I’m with the boys. I am very grateful to be able to see them and don’t take that for granted. Take care x
I’m getting better at living in the moment- but it is definitely a work in progress. Your grandchildren are absolutely adorable. I very much hope to meet them one day
I hope you can meet them one day too, Donna. Living in the moment is certainly easy to say but difficult to put into practice. Now you are free of lockdown you are certainly making up for lost time. x
I’m absolutely with you on this. I love every day of my life and find there’s so much to do each and every day. We have some plans in place for some future travels but if they don’t eventuate, I don’t stress – there’s always something else fun to take its place. And you’re right – spending time with little ones is a special joy that keeps us in the here and now. Love the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. Hope you get the estate things worked out soon without stress.
Hi Christine, you definitely live in the moment and I can feel the joy in your photos that I see on Instagram, especially those with your family x
You told me I would love this post and I did.
Such a lovely set of images and lovely words too. The one of you and your grandson looking up together is beautiful.
As for people who make trouble of money and inheritances..we need a new word for them. Not sure what, but could work on it.
Sending my best to you both as that is a tough place to be in, let alone being able to grieve your MIL’s passing.
Thank you for being part of this week’s Life This Week link up. I enjoy seeing the posts linked by the community of friendly bloggers every Monday …and you are one of those. Next week’s optional prompt is Question. I hope to see you then. Denyse.
Hi Denyse, as soon as I saw your prompt I knew what I would write. I’ve had such wonderful times with Ethan and Elliot they bring light and joy to distract me from the not-so-good things that are happening at the moment. xx
Hi Sue, I’m back to say thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. Have a beautiful week!
Thanks so much for hosting, Natalie. Have a lovely week xx
Hi Sue, your grandchildren are gorgeous! You’re so right – children live for the moment so being around them can help us to as well. I find yoga is the best way I can close everything else out and live in the moment. Having to concentrate on my breathing is impossible if my thoughts are caught up in other things. That’s why I feel so relaxed after a good yoga session. Have a lovely weekend and enjoy our beautiful weather! Christina
Thanks, Christina! I think they are pretty special but I might be a tad biased. I love a good yoga session too and am trying to do more in August. xx
Children are so good at helping us to live in the moment. I believe that is one of the reason why I love spending time with my children, and the children at work. Living in the moment makes me feel more alive, no matter what it is I am doing. Thank you for this beautiful post.
Hello Maria and thank you for visiting. I totally agree about children and I also think they make you have a positive outlook on life as well. So pleased you enjoyed the post. x