When I first started this blog/jlog (journal blog), I had this post drafted as my second entry… lo and behold a month later, and it finally feels ready to enter the world. Another reminder to me, and hopefully you that things don’t always go as planned! A bit or at least similar to some of the parallels that I’ve been going through in my own life of recent… But before I get distracted, back to post on moment by moment…
Many that know me well, will be aware that one of my favourite sayings is “moment by moment.” It’s been the phrase that has sustained me through the crazy storms that I have encountered in the last few years of my life and constantly thereafter (even these last few days and weeks where I truly felt a bit overwhelmed!)… and allowed me to stay calm, centred, focused and in the present moment. I was blessed to learn the value of this phrase doing my first 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat a few years ago that has been a game-changer in my life ever since (another post on this to come soon I promise!).
In this age of instant gratification and the quick-fix-result-focused populace, we tend to brush over the little moments and focus on those AHA! moments instead. Yet it’s often in the single moments that we find the most meaning and solace. As I shared in my initial post, Post #1 AHA! Moments, I believe that it’s the series of these moments strung together that lead to that eureka lightbulb moment rather than one out-of-the-blue experience that is hyped-up about… at least in my experience that is!
On the other end of the spectrum, when I’m stressed or feeling overwhelmed, or like I just don’t know what to do, I silently remind myself that all I can control is one moment at a time. All I can DO is embrace one moment or thing at a time. So the mantra I often repeat to myself is “one moment, one thing, one situation” at a time! As life becomes more fast-paced and the post-Covid world propels us into unchartered territories, it is so easy to get lost in the noise. .
So today, this 2 June – exactly one month since I had initially planned this post – I invite you embrace the moments in your life. As we strive to look for the good in each day this Joyful June, I remind you to also embrace the moments, both good and bad to allow you to fully experience the fullness of each moment. It’s when we start realising that the ONLY thing we can control is this moment, we become aware that there’s no use stressing about the past or the future. In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh who says it so eloquently, “The present moment is the ONLY moment available to us, and it is the door to ALL moments.”
Enjoy the moment by moment experience. I look forward to hearing your feedback!
Be good. And awesome! And kind and gentle to yourselves and others.
Much love always, Poonam
2 June 2022