In-Between Times

After the holidays, it seems we move into a major “Can’t Wait” season. Can’t wait for the weekend, can’t wait for warm days, can’t wait until spring break, can’t wait…  This kind of thinking seems to occur in the in-between times of our lives. It often feels like we are trudging along through the days with no real end in sight. We spend an enormous amount of energy focusing on what’s behind us or what lies ahead. We long for the peak experiences or highlight moments of our lives, but, in the process, we lose sight of the potential and meaningfulness of the here and now.

So, how can we make the most of today? I find it helpful to focus on these three things:

·       Be present

·       Be mindful

·       Be grateful

When we’re present, we don’t spend time beating ourselves up for the past, and we’re not worrying about the future. We’re living this moment and seeing what opportunities are at hand this very day.

Being mindful is opening up all of our senses to what’s happening right now. What do we see, hear, feel around us? What’s going on in this very moment? What does this stir in us? What can we learn from it?

Embracing gratitude allows us to filter everything around us with a perceptive heart. When things are okay or better, we have many things to be thankful for. However, even in the darkest times of hurt and pain, we can choose to look for things to be grateful for. It’s not about being thankful for the trauma or harm, but instead, it could be remembering special people in our lives or seeing things through a new perspective.

When we get caught up in just waiting for some specific day or event to happen in life, we miss the fact that our life is in the in-between times. So, let’s work on being present, mindful, and grateful today.