Refocus

Yesterday I was able to spend a few hours by myself in a new environment on a little vacation.  Usually in these situations I get really distracted by my phone, something back at home, or flooded with the list of to do’s… I can never fully enjoy where I am because my mind is in a completely different place. Which is a little selfish.  If I am so stuck in my own world that I can’t see beyond my own two feet, where is that going to get me. But yesterday I feel like I was able to take it all in. Just be. Be present. Be engaged. And don’t just coast, but live.

If I had been distracted by my own life yesterday I may have missed out on the interesting and unique culture I was visiting.  The people, the restaurants, the sights, the architecture, and the history.  People didn’t all just arrive and become who they are in their own worlds.  There is a history, a story, and a personality to each culture. It is an amazing experience to open your eyes and take it all in.

I could focus on the idea that rushes into my brain that I accomplished nothing at all yesterday.  Which may be partly true, but in that moment, it doesn’t have to matter. I was able to be me.  I was able to enjoy some time alone. I am the kind of person that doesn’t do nothing often. And I for sure do not do it well. When I have those few hours, I feel a little guilty. But I am not being useless. I need to be thankful for those moments and be refreshed. Life isn’t about just rushing around doing as much as possible in a short amount of time. Life is about taking it all in. It is about being in the moment.  Enjoying who you are.

So today, take a breath. As the day awakens and warms our heart and souls, have a moment. Be relaxed. Remind yourself that you like who you are, or who you are becoming. Pick something to be thankful for.  And be.

What are you thankful for today?