Why is it so difficult for us in the Western culture to live in the moment?

Right now, it’s blazing hot in Seattle. I’m sipping ice tea at Tully’s and I realize that I’m not really enjoying the refreshing drink. I’m thinking about what I have to get done and who I have to talk to in the next day. I don’t even taste the ice tea.

There, that was a good sip. Um, that’s good. So refreshing and so cool. My quality of life would be so much better if I learned to live in the moment at appropriate times.

I remember when I was so tired and jet-lagged on a trip to Paris. After walking around sightseeing, I was so happy to lay in my hotel bed. It felt so, so good. Then, I realized I had to get up in 15 minutes for dinner and all I could do was stress about having such a short time to rest. After getting my blood pressure up thinking about having to get up soon, I finally decided to breath deep and just focus on how good it was to rest, appreciating each breath. Those last 10 minutes of rest was fantastic — and helpful.

Right now, like many of you, I’m juggling a lot things on multiple fronts. I really wouldn’t want it any other way because I love the challenges. But sometimes, I got to stop and enjoy each sip of my refreshingly cold ice tea on this stifling hot day — and so do you.