Loving NOW and Your Life Today!

There is no better time to pursue your dream or go after what (or whom!) you love than right now. 

It may sound cliché, but it's important for all of us to remember that right now - this moment - is the only time that we are ever granted.  And each little moment seemingly leaves us very quickly, doesn't it?!  (A few of them are already in the past since you started reading this post!)

Utilizing this moment as productively and positively as possible is very important in order to live a fulfilling life.  Wasting time thinking about regrets, feeling anxious, worried or being upset in general is not a productive way to spend precious time.  Obviously life can bring with it incredible difficulties, but it is how we choose to respond to the current moment (even if you’re dealing with a difficult matter) that truly defines our character. 

“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.”  Dr. Wayne Dyer

After I reread a section regarding "living in the moment" from "Excuses Begone!," which is one of motivational author Dr. Wayne Dyer's incredible books, I felt compelled to share a story with all of you about how important it is to not waste the current moment worrying or in fear.  (This is a story that helped to remind me to always live in the present, for we have no way of predicting the future!)

I was working on a set of a commercial recently in up the San Fernando Valley which was filming outside for two days.  Gosh, friends, it was a HOT July day.  I mean, it was super unbearably and uncomfortably hot - and this is coming from someone who is obsessed with sunshine and heat! 

After day one of the shoot, and even though I was incredibly grateful for the work, I felt drained and exhausted from the heat of the day!  And when I drove back to set the next morning for day two of the commercial, I was preparing myself for another day of being outside in the blistering heat - literally in the middle of a parking lot with no shade.  (The weather report called for another day in the 100s, with clear skies.)

On the morning of the second day I noticed that there was some cloud cover, which was helping to keep the temperature down, yet I kept thinking about - and worrying about - feeling very uncomfortable again while filming.  I kept looking up at the sky, thinking, “It’s just a matter of time before the sun peeks out and bakes all of us here in this parking lot!”  (It was also making me nervous because some of the cast and crew were actually feeling very ill the previous day from the heat.) 

As the morning went on, however, the clouds remained in the sky, blocking the sun and its intense heat from everyone on the set.  This continued into the afternoon, when, almost miraculously, it rained!!

Yes, in the middle of July near the desert of Southern California, we experienced some rain drops.  (For those of you who don’t live here, that is essentially unheard-of, especially after the weather forecast predicted sunshine and blue skies.)  It felt like we had all hit the lottery in that parking lot! 
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The point of this little story is that it did me no good to worry about being uncomfortable or becoming ill because of the intense heat.  It never happened! 

Leaving Worry Behind

In life, we often spend time feeling upset about a past event or we worry about a future one, when in actuality, we have absolutely no control over any of these two places.  All that we have control over are our choices in this current moment. 

Hence, friends, don’t be afraid of the future.  And let go of the past.  Live it up as much as possible with those individuals you care about - in this exact moment that we are blessed to have! 
 
“I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)
To take a stand (to take a stand)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my hand (come take my hand)
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just letting you know that you're not alone”
 
“Not Afraid” by Eminem

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