With the many distractions of everyday life sometimes it’s difficult trying to stay in the moment. Sometimes, and more frequently than I would like, my mind wanders off. And when this happens I’ll feel disconnected from the present. Knowing that this obviously isn’t a good way to live, I’m always trying to re-focus my mind.
Have you noticed that when you’re away from home, perhaps on vacation or travelling for work purposes, the eyes and mind are more tuned into your environment? You tend to notice more details in general, and the imagination gets revved-up. I think that when you live in the moment, life can be more fun and interesting.
For instance, Bill’s convinced that there’s an old man following him everywhere he goes. He spotted this old man while having a snack in a local eatery in Abu Dhabi.
Later that year, he saw this guy while in Laguna Beach, CA…check out the spiky hair!
The old man made another appearance last month while he was away in Sydney, Australia.
I think it’s funny how Bill keeps running into this old man. It makes me wonder if he’s looking for this particular silhouette and if so, why this strange attraction? This might be a stretch, but a few years back Bill took a charcoal drawing class. And after a few classes we noticed that he was mostly sketching faces, male ones in particular. Do you suppose that maybe in real life, we see what we’re most naturally drawn to? What about you…do you have someone or something that follows you around?
Here’s a cuff that I knitted using a pair of extra chopsticks that I had lying around. It’s a little reminder to myself to “Be in the moment.” I can easily keep this message more private by wearing it turned inside-out, or I can leave it in the open. And the paper sleeve that I created for the chopsticks is a nod to my past – growing up I spent countless hours at Chinese restaurants with my family.
The removing of the chopsticks from its paper sleeve signifies the beginning of a meal (at least for me it did.) And in Chinese tradition, the meal (especially in a restaurant) would be more like a feast since there are usually course after course after course of delectable dishes. Yum! You bet I was always in the moment during those special mealtimes…some things never change.
9 Comments, Comment or Ping
I try to live in the moment, but sometimes that it is difficult. My mind is always racing with thoughts from the past or “what ifs” about the future. I have to remind myself frequently to stay in the present.
What interesting photos of Bill’s stalker old man. The formation on the bluff in the 3rd photo are so beautiful. And I love that you used the chop sticks ads tools to create something beautiful. How clever you are!
xo
jeanne
June 12th, 2010
what a lovely post and wonderful reminder.
thank you becky!!
the images of the old man are very intriguing….i often wonder what draws people to certain images over and over and over again. what does it mean??? (i especially loved his spiky hair!!)
your sweet cuff is wonderful! i find myself saying those words to myself more often than usual lately “be in the moment. be in the moment. be in the moment.” it is a good mantra!!
thank you for this today! i was certainly in the moment as i sat and read your wise words!
xxoo
k
June 12th, 2010
How fascinating Bill has a watcher! For me, it is butterflies…a friend and I were discussing this shape. We both have thyroid disease and the gland is butterfly shaped. She was going to this maze and sent me a pic. Her family goes every year, it was shaped like a butterfly; Really beautiful! I have even seen fireworks shaped like butterflies, i have witnesses, lol~
My Mom had one at her house, a gorgeous monarch, it’s wings were the size of my hands. I ran outside and saw it again, it was the size of a bird! They usually show up unexpectedly~ I do think when we are open, we are more aware, and see things in greater details!
Bill’s man reminds me of the Old Man in the Mountains in New Hampshire; In Alaska, their are a lot of mountain ranges that look like
profiles of people. There is also a whole range that looks like a sleeping lady…http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc20776.php
hence the name!
It is fun that you shared this; I love stuff like this, being open to signs and unique images! I think it means someone is looking out for him, in a positive way, a gentle reminder!
I love your reminder, to look for the pearls(purls) in our moments in life! I love how the chopsticks remind you of treasured family memories, like the chopsticks pull up together, so did you and your family sharing the “Be in the Moment” times!
June 12th, 2010
i think we all need this reminder sometimes — thank you:)
xo
June 13th, 2010
enjoying every moment is something i treasure especially as my little boy is growing. i love the sleeve you made for the chopsticks. since my husband is korean, we use chopsticks on a daily basis and completely understand meals being a “feast.”
June 14th, 2010
What a lucky boy your son is…growing up in a multi-cultural household.
On my family’s side, we judge chopstick holding skills based on whether or not you can pick up a single peanut using chopsticks, and then popping it into your mouth without dropping the peanut. As a kid, while eating at restaurants I used to play this game all the time while waiting for the next course to arrive. We’ve played this game with Brook many times and as a result, she’s become quite good at handling chopsticks.
June 14th, 2010
I love your photos of the old man stalking your husband. Just beautiful. The first one looks like raw chicken skin!
As a former psychologist, I am forever reminded of the importance of staying in the moment and the great deal of trouble I have doing just that. There is something inside me that continues to race forward, either in joy or in worry. I need a nice cuff like yours….far more aesthetically pleasing than writing it in pen on my palm!
Thanks for your comments about the banner and thanks for stopping by again! Susie is going to soften some of the colors. I do love it because of it’s meaning to me.
June 15th, 2010
becky…this is such an intriguing post…i love it.
it took me a minute to figure out the man who stalks poor bill, but once i saw him, i was amazed! what a question.
i am always attracted to old things. old people. old paint. old doors. old handles. old fabric. old photos. maybe i should think about what that means.
i attended a retreat on the oregon coast last year with liz lameroux, kelly rae roberts and andrea scher. it was a “BE PRESENT” retreat and i learned so many valuable tools to help keep myself in the present. something i continue to work on.
thank you for the reminder.
i love your little reminder.
happiness.
c
June 15th, 2010
i am fascinated by this old man that your sweet bill keeps running into! and i totally agree with you that we most often see what we’re naturally attracted to ……and what occupies our minds at the time. i don’t know that i would have noticed these images, but once you pointed them out, it’s plain as day!
and one of these days, i’m going to figure out how to crawl inside your creative mind and just linger for a while! i always think that you’ve outdone yourself, and then you take chopsticks and create something so meaningful! i have a friend who’s mantra is “be here now”…..i’m still in the learning stages of that one…… xox
June 15th, 2010
Reply to “Be in the Moment”