Thoughts on a plane

Some years ago I became aware for the first time that I was either always thinking about things that had happened, or thinking about where things were going. In other words, I lived mostly in the past or future, and rarely in the present.

Despite being aware of this, shifting to the present moment did not happen automatically. It’s strange that although the present is perpetual, it takes the most effort to be here. It is the only thing that’s real, yet we have to consciously choose it. It’s as real as breathing—imagine if in every moment we had to consciously choose breath; but we don’t, and our bodies just know how to do it. It’s a default setting. Why, then, isn’t living in the present?

Personally, the present often feels boring. As someone who lives predominantly in my head rehashing memories and feelings, or fabricating fictions (exciting!), sitting with the present makes me feel restless. As if the present isn’t constantly in motion.

Because the present exists only for the moment.

Look:

There goes the present.

Now it’s the past.

There goes the present. Now it’s the past.

Theregoesthepresentnowitsthepast.

Thepresentnowthepast.

Presentnowpast.

Presentnowpast. Presentnowpast.

Presentnowpastpresentnowpastpresentnowpast.

Zoomzoomzoom.

Blink and you’ll miss it. You’re already in the future.

So being present is never really just being still. We’re constantly moving, whether we like it or not. Far from being boring, it’s the most dynamic state that exists.

What happens in that fleeting space? What can we see under the microscope of this moment?

Look fast, while you can. It’ll be the next moment now.