Where are YOU living?
You always hear people say, “Live in the moment,” “We only have today,” “No one knows the future,” “Seize the day!”
But how many of us actually live in the moment of each day we’re given? Many would say, “Of course I’m living in the day I’m given. I get up, get dressed, have breakfast, go to work, come home, make dinner, relax before bedtime, go to sleep. Get up the next day and do it again. And maybe do something fun with the family on weekends.”
But is that really living? These are things that we do by rote; they have become necessary functions of our everyday lives. What I’m talking about is different.
With the holiday season in full swing, I thought it might be fun, a la Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” to explore the Past, Present, and Future. Here are three brief descriptions; I’ll delve further into each one of these periods of time over the next three weeks, at which time you should have a good idea of what your type is.
The topic is VACATIONS, but you can use the “formula” for any topic.
Living In The Past
“I love the memories of that vacation. I love looking at photos of the trip, getting together with the friends who traveled with me and reminiscing about the fun we had. I remember the landmarks we visited, the horrible airport experiences, and the culinary experiences of eating food from different places that we normally would not cook at home.”
Living In The Present
“I love being on this vacation. Look how blue the ocean is! Let’s take a detour on this road and see where it leads us. I can’t believe I’m walking the cobblestone streets of Paris, eating a crepe! I’ve never stayed in such a luxurious hotel – the thread count on these sheets is amazing! Should we go hiking, shopping, or lay by the pool today?”
Living For The Future
”I can’t wait ‘til my vacation next year. I’m planning to go to Vermont during leaf-changing season. First, we’ll fly into New Hampshire, then rent a car and drive into Vermont. I booked a stay at a cute country inn that I heard about in a Bon Appetit article. We can rent bicycles and drive through the country roads, stopping for cider, with the colors of red, orange, and gold as our backdrop. Maybe we’ll check out a Fall music or art festival, then head back to the inn for a nightcap or a game of checkers in front of a roaring fire. It will be the perfect combination of relaxation, fresh air and exercise in nature’s surroundings, and savory meals and activities to celebrate the Autumn Harvest.”
Which of these three best describes you? Did you read these narratives and have one of them jump out at you and thought, “That’s me!” You might have some combination of all three, but there is one that is dominant. One that fits you to a “t.”
Next Week: “Living In The Past”
