One of the most challenging things for those of us who are planners and future-oriented is the ability to be in the present moment on a consistent basis. Often we focus on the mistakes of the past or terrorize ourselves over every future scenario. We blow through our to-do list at the expense of the things that matter most in our lives – time and intentional engagement with our family, connecting with colleagues and teammates, and our own personal re-creation. This is certainly true for me.

I am not only a “thinker” but very much a “doer” so it is very challenging for me to “stop and smell the roses” because I derive such pleasure from getting things done. The problem with this is, at the end of my life, the thing I will regret most is not enjoying life more. So I stopped to think about those moments where I was actually present, and here are some of the common characteristics. You may notice I am writing them all in the present tense.

I know I am present when:

• I am not elsewhere mentally but here (e.g. I am not thinking of work, while I am at home)
• I am not thinking about anything but what is going on right now (i.e. not the past, not the future, and not the clock)
• I am physically here and not trying to escape to the next item or action (e.g. I am writing this blog post right now, and not distracted, by some notification)
• I am not multi-tasking, but rather fully engaged and focused on the activity or people I am with right now
• I am mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in sync what is going on right now
• I genuinely care about what is happening in the moment
• I am enjoying what is happening right now
• I feel easy, light, and frictionless (i.e. there is no tension or stress in me as I am engaged in my present activity).

I’ve noticed that not all of these signs may be present at the same moment, but when I am present I experience one or more of these at the same time. Just last night, I was contemplating this lesson for myself, so I decided that I was going to apply it while reading “Lassie Come Home”  to my kids. As I was reading, I completely let go of inhibition and found myself voicing the different characters. To be honest, I was having a ball, and at the end of the chapter, my kids said to me, “Good chapter, Dad.”

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