Moments in March

Collect moments, not things. What does this mean exactly?

Well, finding joy doesn't always come from objects....it comes from experiences

Have you ever seen the movie “The Secret life of Walter Mitty”? Long story short, Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is a day dreamer and lives his life through adventures in his mind...until one day his job at Life Magazine is on the line and he goes off in search of famed photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) to find a missing photo negative that is meant to be used magazines cover.

Fast forward to the end, and Walter finally tracks down Sean, on top of a snowy mountain in Iceland, patiently waiting for his 'money shot' of the beautiful Snow Leopard on film. As they sit there patiently waiting, and chatting, Sean explains to Walter that the Snow Leopard is often called 'the Ghost Cat', because it is so elusive, and when the cat finally appears, Sean gets ready to take his photo.....but changes his mind and sits there, watching the Snow Leopard in all it's glorious beauty. Walter is confused by this – after all, wasn't that the reason he was there - to take photographs? Sean turns to Walter and says “Beautiful things don't ask for attention”.

This is a line that resonated with me and hit me like 10,000 volts - enjoy just 'being' in the moment and appreciate that moment for just how beautiful it can be. I loved this movie, but loved it a million times more after this particular scene. I was totally picking up what Sean Penn’s character was putting down. Life is busy, hectic even...there is so much pressure on us in our day to day lives, that we forget to actually stop and take a moment to look up at the sky or even at what's around us. So many beautiful things pass us by because we are too busy to notice.

Now, back to reality...living in the moment takes practice, but when you learn how to live this way, you will lead a fuller life and appreciate the beauty in every second of the day (well, maybe every second may be a stretch...but you get what I mean). So, how does one go about 'living in the moment'?

Focus on the Now
In order to live in the moment, you need to focus on the now. Focus on what you’re doing. Put down your phone, turn off the computer or television......slow down, and savour the present. Notice the sounds around you.....people laughing, of birds chirping (I know for me, after the recent bushfires, waking up to the sound of kookaburras suddenly became my favourite sound to hear first thing of a morning, and found myself smiling that Australia was so lucky and fortunate to have such a beautiful and unique bird).

By paying attention to the 'small things' you are helping yourself in creating positive and memorable experiences, and you may just discover that those 'small things were actually 'big things' and help shape you as a person.

Smile
If you want to know how to live in the moment, why not look in the mirror and smile. Something as simple as a smile, can 100% influence how you feel. If we feel happy, we smile. If we smile, it makes us feel happy....see where I'm going with this?. Our face communicates our frame of mind to those around you......so smile — it will make you happier and it may just help you appreciate living your life in the moment.

Forgive past hurts
If you are hanging onto hurt or anger towards someone, try to choose to forgiveness and move on. By holding onto this hurt is allowing it to impact your present mood...allow yourself to let go of the past and choose to be present in the moment instead.

Stop Worrying
Easier said than done, I know....but you can't appreciate 'today' when you're distracted by worrying about what is going to happen tomorrow. Tomorrow is still going to happen, no matter how much you worry about it. Allow yourself to redirect your mental energy elsewhere - take your dog for a walk or call a friend and meet them for coffee …..and try to remember things have a way of working themselves out, so try not to worry about something that may not even happen.

So, to sum everything up, consider your brain as a mental photo album or scrapbook (old school USB for any millennial youngsters out there) – storing memories or 'moments' that we can revisit whenever we want and draw happiness from. Whether it's being in nature, taking in a sunset, having an ACTUAL conversations with a friend or family member, or even allowing yourself to connect with a song or a movie........aren't these all worthy of having your complete and undivided attention? I think they are. 

Remember - life in the moment moves quickly.....don’t miss it.