being in the present moment

"There is a saying, the past is in the past, the future has not yet come all we have is the present moment." 

But what is the present moment?  Most importantly how can we develop it into our daily lives.  Present moment is being in the here and the now. 

There is a passage from a book I love called Journey to the Heart by: Melody Beattie.

The book has meditations for everyday of the year.  Sometimes I just choose a page and read it and its right on target.  I work on for one month a principle or something I am trying to improve on in my life.  This month of August I am working on just being in the present moment.  What is it like to just be?  To live life without expectations? 

There is a passage I find so clear to me that I read this morning that I am going to share with you.

The title is called Learn to be Present.

"I haven't been able to give you much materially," He said. "Not jjewelry, diamonds, or gold.  But the gift I've given to you, what I had to offer, is staying fully present for you."

Presence is a gift-staying fully present for friends, family, ourselves and our lives.  Staying in the moment, with our hearts open, will change other people's lives and ours.
So often we've learned, out of habit or fear, to be only partially present, partially conscious, for ourselves, others, and our lives.  We aren't certain what we're feeling; our attention and energy are diverted to the next place, the next person.  We're there, kind of. 

There's another way, its a better way.  One where we keep our hearts open and know what we feel.  We take the risk of being vulnerable enough to share who we really are and to allow others to do the same.  We become fully present for each moment and each person on our path.  Yes, there are times when it isn't safe to be open, when the energy of a circumstance isn't right for us.  But that usually reveals a lesson and dictates a choice.  It may be time to learn, time to leave, time to feel, time to choose. 

Learn to release all that stands in the way of you and the present moment.  Learn to let go of all that blocks you from being fully present for yourself and others.

Give the gift of presence to

yourself and to the world."

So often we go threw life not being in the moment including myself.  What techniques or changes that you can make today to stay fully present in the moment, even if its only to do one mindful activity with all of your presence and attention? 

 The past is in the past, the future has not yet come, all we have is the present moment.