The present moment

The present moment is physical—you can literally only be inside of it.

For example, right now my body is on the couch, typing this entry. My wife is next to me reading. The dog hops up and asks for belly rubs.

That is the present moment.

Then there’s the mind. The mind has sped forward to the beginning of winter break, makes a to-do list for holiday planning, tosses out some budget numbers, and wonders when the right time is to talk about events—not next year in 2026, but 2027!

And this is where I have to apply the brakes: come back to the present moment. Back to typing, back to the dog, back to my wife reading, and back to this post.

After years of self-taught meditation, I am learning that the present moment is less about getting quiet and never being disturbed, and more about noticing what is happening around you—without needing to wrestle it into perfect calm first.

That kind of observing keeps the anxiety at bay, and it’s the beginning of joy… well, at least for now.

Question for readers: Where has your mind been time-traveling lately—and what’s one small detail in your surroundings that could bring you back to right now?