In the Moment

Recently my husband and I hiked a portion of the beautiful Bell Rock Pathway. On this trail, nature’s beauty is amazing, all the way from the forest growth to the awe-inspiring presence of Courthouse Butte. At several places along the trail, I almost always stop to appreciate the 360-degree view of several famous formations.

But this morning, I found myself, early in the hike, wondering what I would have for breakfast. In other words, I was not “in the moment.” Instead my mind was racing ahead—and it didn’t stop with breakfast. Next I started prioritizing the small tasks that I planned to complete. In the presence of awesome natural surroundings, I was thinking about daily tasks.

From the personality inventories I’ve taken, I know I tend to be task-oriented, just looking for the next thing to do. The good news is that, this morning, I caught myself and made a decision to be in the moment, appreciating all the beauty around me. A friend calls this “mindfulness,” which I think begins with awareness.

You write it: What do you do when you feel your mind straying from what’s right in front of you?