Live in the moment

One of the images that always spring to mind for people when you say the word Buddhism is someone meditating, right? But what is meditation really? What is it supposed to accomplish?

It's a very focus, one-pointed concentration. Many will say concentration plus mindfulness.

So, what does that mean for those of us who can't meditate in the middle of our daily home and work life?

It's the old saying - "live in the moment."

Complete and utterly present-moment that we tend to rarely ever achieve because of the multi-tasking that has just become routine in our lives.

I will use an example from last night at my work in the newsroom:

If I'm at work handling a phone call, while planning ahead for what tomorrow's assignments for everyone will be, while at the same time putting the 6 o'clock news together because the regular producer was out sick, and also working on content to the stations internet site, I was not living for any moment, and of course, got stressed.

How many times have we rolled our eyes at someone who told us "don't worry about tomorrow, only today?" Well, I did too. But, you know what? They were right.

Attentiveness to what's happening in the moment can bring us back to a steady calm feeling and a sense of wellness. It's living the whole "stop and smell the roses."

One of the most calming things I ever learned that changed my once non-stop, fast-pace, high-functioning lifestyle, was to simply slow down.

I can not recommend that enough for anyone. Take a moment to stop, breath, feel the blood flowing through you and realize who you are. Look around you at the earth and the world - the tree, that lake, those birds. Take that moment and as you breath, remember that we're all one.

This simple matter of slowing down and paying attention to the now, living in the moment, can bring a brand new tranquility to your life. Go ahead, give it a shot. :)