To those longing to be in the present

​The present moment often fades quickly, and with an added layer of depression and/or anxiety the present moment fades all the more quickly.
 
A quote from Lao Tzu continues to resonate with me:

​Being in the present is a difficult practice. It requires intentionality and self-compassion.  Each moment is a choice, a choice to get lost in the past and/or future, to beat yourself up for getting lost in the past and/or future, or choosing to breathe into the present moment.
 
My hope is to get you thinking about your relationship with the present moment, and introduce one simple tool to help you be in the present moment - mindfulness meditation.
 
Mindfulness is defined as:

​Practicing mindfulness meditation has helped me decrease self-judgment for when I get lost in my past and/or future and mindfulness directs me back to the present. Even if I can only be mindful for one minute, that is one more minute in the present.

My hope for both you and me is that when we do get lost in the past and/or future (because we will) that we learn to be aware and present to the fact that we are getting lost. It is better to know we are getting lost, than to get lost while getting lost.

So check out the Resources page for links to different websites and free phone apps to get started on mindfulness meditation. Stop.Breathe.Think is one of my favorites. It has both quick and longer meditations that I can easily fit into my day.
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Also, below is a short video about finding calm in the present moment. Best of luck on our respective journeys with the present moment.