Life goes
quickly. So, we need to savor and
appreciate the priceless relationships and experiences that money cannot buy.
We all know this to
be true.
Yet we often get
caught up in the busy routines, the hurry, and the practice of juggling
multiple experiences without genuinely paying significant attention to any of
them. When this happens, it’s almost as
if we miss portions of our lives even though we were physically present as they
happened.
(Have you ever
missed experiences by being physically present but not mentally and emotionally
present? …Yeah, me too.)
I’ve struggled with
this just like everyone else, but here are four things that have helped me a
bit over the years:
Remember that it’s
okay to say “no” to some of the requests for our time that come up. I don’t do this well, but I’m getting
better. (Not a lot better, but a little
bit.)
When we are faced
with a choice between cool stuff (material things) and meaningful experiences,
it’s usually wise to make meaningful experiences the priority.
It helps when I
regularly enter into quiet, stillness and solitude with God.
Finally, when you’re
with someone, really look at the person.
Pay attention to him/her. Be
fully present with him/her. (I know this
is blindingly obvious. But we don’t
always do it. So, it must not be quite
as obvious as we think it is.)
By the way, please
know that I’m not trying to preach at anyone, I’m just sharing some thoughts I
hope will spark our thinking and, maybe, offer a little help.
