Thursday, March 10, 2011

40 Days to Revolution 3/10/11

What is it to be living in the present?  Why do we want it?  Actually, why are we asking this question and why is it bugging me?

First, for there to be “living in the present”, there must be living in the past and living in the future.

Living in the past is reliving memories.  That can be good and bad, happy and sad.  We can learn from the past—that is good.  We can do that in the present:  analyzing a past event or action. We can’t change the past.  But we can’t stay there.  Living only in the past.  It’s only a third of life.

Living in the future is dreaming and hoping and planning.  It might be worrying.  It might be wishing.  We can do that in the present.  But we can’t live there either.  It’s only a third of life.

The third third… Living in the present.  I think the problem is that we live in the past and future half and half without enough present. We bring or allow the past and the future to dominate our thoughts in the present.  Therefore, the goal perhaps, is be aware of what is around us, when the world intrudes, but to maintain a mental distance. 

And yet there is something to be said for refection and daydreaming.  There is something to be said for “zoning out” when you are completely involved—so much so that you are lost in the present.

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