Isn’t it interesting that this word has two very different, yet very similar meanings?

The Present, or what I like to think of, as a pre-sent moment, is the right here and now. Today, when I woke up, I told myself I was going to do my damnedest to spend the whole day, every second of it, in the present.

In short — I set out to channel my inner Tolle. Basically, kick some present ass and take some names.

This is no small task for me. At all. Actually, it’s a little daunting, but hey, I was feeling up for the challenge.

First, it’s hard to know when you suddenly are out of the present and you’re already on to tomorrow or two weeks, two months or two years from now. I just try to catch myself by being as aware as possible of how I’m feeling, based on my thoughts, which usually go something like this:

I’m drinking coffee and feeling so good and then I’m thinking about how good I’m feeling and then I’m wondering: shit, is this because of the coffee? Or is it just me? No, it’s definitely just me. Am I going to get everything done today that I need to? What do I need to get done today anyway? Do I know what’s happening this weekend? If I don’t get some things done this weekend, then when Maman is here the following weekend, what am I going to do? And if I don’t know what I’m going to do if I don’t get it done, then … then …

Hopefully I catch myself right about “then”. And I re-direct. I take some deep breaths. I try to laugh at myself and I focus on right now. This is a great thing to do, especially when I write, because my mind tends to wander. When I can be fully focused on this moment, nothing else matters or exists. There is no stress. No worry. Things are clear and problems fall away.

The key is to be mindful of this. To tackle things bit by bit. Minute by minute. It’s a work in progress for sure, but I think I’m getting a little better each day.

When I think of the present, I also naturally think of a present; a gift. And isn’t this true … that this present we have before us is such a gift for us. To do and to share with whomever we like.

It can be the greatest gift we give ourselves or it can be the worst kind of thoughtless gift that we’re left wondering … do they not have any idea of who I am and what I like? Yeah. This is coming from a former gift anxiety opener right here. I know what I’m talking about.

But if we keep it simple, just like love, we won’t even have to think about this gift … the pre-sent will be just that.