Meanwhile, I am here

As the time is getting nearer to my first true vacation for a while, I can feel that it gets harder and harder for me to be in the present. I mean, obviously I am in the present - we all are, all the time, whether we spend our present day-dreaming or reminiscing about the past. But yesterday I found myself engaging in that futile and ultimately somewhat childish mind-game of, “if I can just get through this week, there are only x days left before y.”

Don’t get me wrong: abstracting, dreaming, separating oneself from the present; these can all be super helpful strategies to get through grief, pain, and even boredom.

But sometimes these strategies prevent me from enjoying the pleasure of now. The sun on my skin, the gentle humming of my toothbrush, the nutty bittersweet taste of my morning coffee, the joy of connecting with another human in conversation or practice.

The vacation will come around. Meanwhile, I am here.

Next up: online vinyasa practice today Wednesday April 20 at 16:30 UTC (12:30pm EDT). See you there?