Living In the Moment

I am not, by nature, a person that lives in the moment. I'm the person that goes through life busily crossing things off a list. Being "in the moment" always sounded like a laudable goal, but not one that I fully understood or thought was achievable for a solid Type A like myself.

Then anorexia came into my life. Anorexia brought treatment, treatment brought dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and DBt brought mindfulness--aka living in the moment.

Mindfulness has improved my life. I'm never going to be content to sit and meditate for half an hour every day, but I can be content with just being to a much greater degree than I would have ever thought possible.

Mindfulness is a learned skill and I got my training from an excellent therapist and I even had weekly homework to ensure I practiced. There are therapists that actually specialize in mindfulness practice and I might pursue this some day. I don't pretend to be mindful all day, every day and I'm still a Type A, but at least I now know how to live in the moment and I do it with regularity.

Saturday was my husband's company picnic. The setting was beautiful and the weather delightful, but let's be honest--going to a party when you know five out of a hundred people is a dicey proposition at best.

Then these guys showed up.

 

Mariachi San Marcos

They sounded so good, I decided I would just be "in the moment" with the music. Curiously, the band really fed off my in the moment vibe which led to some fun interactions with the band (they wanted me to dance, but I said "Not without some of that tequila you've been singing about!", three separate songs for me throughout the afternoon (I don't know a lot of Spanish, but I do know a song sung to me that includes the words "bonita," "azul," and "ojos" is a compliment) and my taking some cool pics of the band and their instruments. 

 

 As long as I had my camera out, I couldn't resist focusing my lens on the kids--they're always in the moment!

And then . . . because it wasn't my work party . . . I snuck off, grabbed my bike from the van and took a lovely 8-mile spin around the bay--and I can guarantee you I was mindful of the warm sun, the cool breeze, the muscles I was using pedaling the bike and the snippets of laughter, conversation and end-of-summer joy that were all mine to appreciate just by being there.

Comments

[Jocelyn]

GORGEOUS instrument photos, m'dear.

You seem like such a marriage of Type A and "in the moment." I'm rather an anti-Type-A (in fact, a woman for whom I once nannied for a year later gave me a work reference that led with praise to the effect that I was the perfect antidote to her Type A tendencies), yet I feel such resonance with you...perhaps because you're so self aware and because I know we could give each other crap for our tendencies.

And we'd do it all on a long bike ride.

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

You get me completely. I know exactly who I am; I completely own all aspects of my personality-even those that are not the most pleasant. Having a beer with you is on my bucket list!

Sent from my iPhone

[gary rith]

OH!!!! Young dude on the slide = :)

[Jenrantsraves]

Oh wow, I love this post! I would really like to hear more about the mindfulness homework. Might be something I need to do. I have to say, though, as a big list maker, that my kid has helped me be more in the moment. Another thing I've noticed about myself is my need for conversation. I think you share that trait with me! That is fine, but it does sometimes get in the way of being mindful of other things (the landscape, sounds, smells, surroundings, etc). I can recall vividly a moment of extreme mindfulness I had with a friend. We were at a camp, and while all the other campers were engrossed in a softball game, her and I snuck off into the woods to explore. By chance, we came upon the most amazing stream and waterfall, and we sat on a large rock next to each other for over an hour, not saying one word, but just taking in the beauty of nature. I'm not much of a spiritual person, but that is probably the closest I ever felt to God.

[Busy Bee Suz]

I LOVE this. Congrats to you for living in the moment....even if it was just for a few moments. LOL
Lovely photos Jenn!

[Janet]

I'm totally a Type B...but most of my friends are Type A...we need each other to balance things out :-)

great shots, I especially like the one of the hand on the neck of the instrument!

[Smalltown Me]

Fantastic moments!

[Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen]

I too would love to hear more about your mindfulness work and training. Love the mariachi photos!

[Cassi Renee]

I am not Type A, but I have a terrible time being in the moment. It's such a frustration for me --never truly relaxing because I'm always slightly worried about the next thing. For a long time, I didn't even realize I lived like that :-) At least now that I'm aware of it, I can sometime catch myself and force myself to be in the moment.

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

Mindfulness is something I "get" and even revel in (although a computer can distract me at any given time), to the point that my type-A husband gets horribly frustrated with my lack of awareness of the time that has slipped by during my mindful day. Obviously, I lean too far to one side here.
Your photos of the instruments are incredible. That guitar! And I've been to such work parties but they were unfortunately held indoors, in fancy dress, with no lovely escape options. I'm glad you found some to your liking. :)

[Green Girl in Wisconsin]

Way to take a minute and pay attention!
What a fun party.