Enjoying the Present

This week's quote took my breath away, with its logical simplicity: "Those who enjoy the present will have a wonderful past in the future."

And yet, living by it would be a profound spiritual practice, which could take the rest of my life. I have long believed that the present moment is the key to our happiness; that being fully present in it, through sacred living, paying attention in the present moment and perceiving the sacred everywhere, is so rewarding. It means noticing everything around us, appreciating everything around us, and not wasting our time regretting the past (which we can never change, no matter how much we mope about it), neither wishing we were back in the "good old days" (which never existed outside our faulty memories), nor longing to an idealised, impossible future. I have blogged about this here. 

I truly believe that "today", the present moment, is the only place at which time touches eternity. So it is up to us to attempt to be truly present in each passing moment, whether it is subjectively "good" or "bad". If we can master this trick of being present, I believe that our reward is that we will be much happier in the good bits, and more able to endure the bad bits, because we know they will not last forever.

When I look back at my own life, from the perspective of being 65, there are (of course) parts which did not go well, that I choose not to dwell upon. I guess I have been lucky, because when I look back, I feel very blessed - most of my past has been "wonderful". Part of that is the rose-coloured spectacles through which I view it, I'm sure, but part is also that I have striven, all my life, to enjoy the present, as much as I can. Which is why my autobiography has the title, Saying 'Yes' to Life.

For example, I'm sitting at my desk now, writing this blogpost, and if I raise my eyes to the window, I see the tree in the back garden, highlighted by the morning sun, which is my daily companion as I write. Today, its first leaves are beginning to turn brown, but it is mostly still lush and green. And it is silhouetted against a lovely blue sky with fluffy white clouds - such a nice change from the rain of yesterday. And I am (again) filled with awe and wonder at the sheer beauty in front of my eyes.