"The meeting of two eternities, the past and the future…is precisely the present moment."
Henry David Thoreau
When May comes around, I find myself eager for summer, and start planning all of the fun things I will do in the coming months. Often I find that all of the summer weekends are fully booked by the time we reach Memorial Day. Especially this year, with the wedding coming up in June, and all of the associated activities, my focus feels scattered. I’m so busy planning and organizing for what’s to come that I find the days passing by with increasing speed. A few days ago, I was listening to a guided meditation from Deepak Chopra and he said “Renewal can only occur in the now…We’ve adjusted to living in a world where accumulating enough money, security, relationships, and possessions has become all-consuming. At an unconscious level, we make choices out of habit and old conditioning. When you bring awareness into the now, you are automatically renewed. You don’t have to do anything. Renewal just is, once you become aware of it…All we have to do is accept.” Chopra gives the example of nature’s power of renewal. Life is continuously renewing itself. We can see this with every Spring, every sunrise and every heartbeat. May is a great time to witness the process of renewal, as seeds begin to sprout, and buds open, bringing new life into the world around us. May is one of those months in Colorado when you have no idea what you are going to get for weather. It could be 80 degrees and sunny, cool and rainy, or could even snow. That uncertainty of what to expect from one day to the next makes it a great time to practice living in the moment. Meditation is an effective way to bring your attention into the present. The mind may continue to wander back to the past or skip ahead to the future when you begin to practice meditation, however, don’t be discouraged. Allow the thoughts to pass without getting caught up in them, and bring your attention back to your breath or a mantra to return to the present moment. The more you can refine your focus in meditation, the easier it becomes to do in your every day life. By being present, and having gratitude for each moment, the more joy and renewal you will experience.