Learning to be Present

Since moving to Seattle in June, I've quickly come to realize that I lack the ability to be truly present in the moment. I am working through all of this in real time so depending on the day my outlook can vary, but in short I think I'm a slight OCD planner... always focused on what's coming next and never truly enjoying the present.

Thinking back on the last few years, everything I've done has been working towards some larger goal, far off date, just something that had nothing to do with the current moment.

They say admitting you have a problem is the first step... so consider this blog step 1. My goal is to try and take each day as it comes, still keeping my long term goals... but relaxing and setting short term goals. And by short term I mean like daily goals lol... and simple ones -  - don't stress, make time for exercise, don't vocalize every negative thing about life, say 1-3 positive things... Yes, it's a bit basic, but I've been described by multiple people as "the most emotional person they know" ... so yeah, I'm starting slow.

"Stay hungry, stay foolish..."

By now the whole world is mourning the loss of Apple Founder and former CEO Steve Jobs. Even for those that never found themselves swept up in the awesomeness of iPhones, iPads, iPods, or Macs... the incredible impact that Steve Jobs had on our lives is hard to overlook.

I was touched by his 2005 Stanford Commencement speech and found it full of simple, yet crucial rules to live by. My favorite quotes:

1. "Stay hungry, stay foolish..."
2. "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life..."

It's so easy to let logic and the opinions of others deter us from going for our dreams, but living your own authentic life is truly one of the most rewarding things anyone can strive for. We've all heard many cliche sayings telling us to live each day to the fullest and like it's our last on earth, but most of us brush it off, often getting caught up in the grind of our daily lives. But really, if we were to take quotes like that to heart and really live our lives to the fullest, without fear, and go for our dreams, I wonder what it would be like.

There are many opportunities I would like to pursue but I allow "life" to get in the way. Even dreams that my husband has that I may think are far out... why not really just live our best lives now and go for them. As Jobs said, death is really something that nobody can escape... the great send-off of life. Out with the old and in with the new... and in 120 years everything will be new again, so why not go out with a bang... or better yet, live life with a "Kaboom" lol...

I know people can find a thousand reasons why NOT to do something, but why not find just 1 reason why you should go for it!