It’s finally starting to feel like fall in Florida–well, kind of anyway. It was while I was enjoying the crisper air and smell of newly-fallen leaves that I relearned a lesson I have been learning for at least the last two decades.
Smiling young mother has a good time in conversations with the son of preschool age
My six year old son asked me to go outside with him while he rode his bike. I brought a book and a highlighter out with me so I could continue to be productive. (I always have a book and a highlighter.) But this time, rather than opening my book, I just sat and watched him. I thought about what a good kid he is, how he’s gotten so big, how he always opens the door for me, and how he makes me laugh.
In those five minutes, I was completely filled with gratitude and joy.
That was all it took. Five minutes of slowing down and setting aside the illusion that “productivity” is the only way to feel accomplished.
That was the reminder I needed this weekend: that moments matter. That moments are what relationships are built on.
Moments are what life is built on.
Moments are what eternity is built on.
But we all forget that. I forget that! Life is busy. If it isn’t, we find a way to fill it back up until it is overflowing again.
But if we don’t train ourselves to look for moments, we will miss everything that matters.
Appreciating moments makes you happier and less anxious. It also helps you feel better and more connected to those you love.
So how do you make moments matter? I have three simple suggestions that EVERYONE can do EVERY DAY:
Stop
Every day, plan five minutes to stop. Stop what you’re doing. Stop worrying about what you’ve been worrying about. Stop the to-do list running through your mind. Stop. Be still, and be with the ones you love.
Look
Observe the world around you. Watch the people you love. What impresses you? What makes you smile? What do you see in their faces? Let their personalities, their quirks, their life bring you a moment of joy.
Listen
What impressions come to your heart and mind? What do your loved ones need from you? Who do they talk about? What do they ask you for? What stories do they tell, people do they talk about, or concerns do they bring up?
These three steps: Stop, Look, and Listen are ones you are familiar with. They are about presence–about not moving forward on autopilot, unaware of the world around you. Moments get lost in autopilot. Meaning and connection live in the spaces when you stop, look, listen–and engage with people who matter most.
So true Kim! In retirement I have learned to be in the moment. I refuse to multitask and enjoy just being…with my grandkids, with my family, with my friends. It’s not so much that I have reduced energy at 73, but I enjoy those moments so much more when I stop, look, and listen. Thanks for the reminder.