AND THE MOMENT IS NOW?

We have all heard or read that true inner peace exists by living in the moment.  Easily said, not easily practiced.  Don't we think about six errands ahead while we are engaged in one? Don't we plan the next stop and task while engaged in a current one? Don't we look for various ways to amuse ourselves in the future while we are performing a current moment? Is the issue that we are afraid that we will be bored if we don't plan ahead?  I speculate that the guru of the moment has very little in his or her life besides "living in the moment" as 1) they don't have a whole lot to do living on that mountaintop and 2) that is their stock and trade to practice what they preach or at least attempt to perfect their occupation.

That rather elaborate preamble was to introduce my revelation this morning as I tortured myself with my exercise routine.  Since my injured knee, strenuous exercise has been regulated to every other day rather than every day to allow some recovery from overtaxing my crappy arthritic limbs. Those who know me understand that admitting to any weakness or popping pills is not my thing.  I refuse to believe that age alone contributes to a lifetime of what I perceive to be weakness. So I stop taking my pain pills and pop a Tylenol now and then; or I force myself to keep moving when every step is torture.  I am not old! 

Ok, again I digress.  Halfway through my routine, I work out with some weights, in front of a mirror. Ok, I'm alone at 3:45-4:00 in the am so I face the mirror.  I try to blur my eyes so I don't see what I see.  Live in the moment. Feel what you feel.  I see this 60+ lady with a little pot belly sweating while she lifts the weight overhead and stretches sideways as far as she can go to hopefully keep her joints working.  When you live in the moment you feel more, you see more and you focus more.  Maybe there's something to this moment thing.  I felt strength and pride in my ability to at least do something to keep myself mobile.  I drifted. I thought of my Grandfather struck with rheumatoid arthritis and confined to a wheelchair most of his adult life. A man who was active, athletic and confined to a wheelchair for 40+ years. That is what keeps me going. Knowing that no matter what my issue is, there is always someone who is going through so much more.

Maybe this living the moment is meant to help you grow and receive insight.  It will be hard but I'm going to try.