Be Present in Your Life

Happy June! I've said it before this summer, and I can almost guarantee I will say it again- I cannot believe how quickly time is flying and the summer is going! It is already June, and just under two months from now Nick and I will be back in Sweden starting another season abroad. Two months/eight weeks/59 days until we are likely on a plane. When you put it each of those ways, we really do not have that much time left here!

Back in December, I posted about how I don't believe in New Years Resolutions. I believe that if you want to make a change in your life, the time to do it is the moment that change pops into your head and you decide to go after it. With that being said, I'm making a little change in my life, especially over the next two months. I will be more present in my daily life, and really take it all in. The fact of the matter is that I simply don't have that much time left to spend in Minnesota with my friends and family here. There are only so many dinner dates, wine nights, and Twins games you can cram into one summer. Add all of that to a normal schedule of working, studying, working out, and daily life activities that pop up, and it becomes ever more important to be present in your daily life.

First step, I'm setting down my phone. Let's not lie, I'll still have it on me just about 90% of the time. But when I'm watching a Twins game, I'm going to enjoy the game and not be texting with a friend or checking Facebook and Twitter. When I'm with a friend, I'm not going to be texting somebody else and making plans. Whoever and whatever I am with is going to get my full attention- because the little amount of time I have, I think each activity deserves that full attention.

Even this blog post right now. The idea came into my mind, and I started typing. Thus far, it has taken me about 5 minutes to type out and organize my thoughts. 5 minutes for a post. Usually each post I type takes at least five times, if not more, that long- because my blog does not get my full attention. My attention is divided between the computer screen, eating breakfast, getting ready for work, watching TV, checking my Facebook and text messages, and whatever else comes into mind. By focusing and giving my undivided attention, I can be more productive- and therefor, get more out of my daily life. Is this post perfect? Is it my best post ever? Are there mistakes, or more cohesive ways I can communicate my thoughts? Probably. But I can spend the next hour perfecting this, or I can spend the next hour taking a walk before I head off to work for the day, and enjoy the weather and my surroundings. I'll take that option.

With that, here is my challenge to my friends, family, and readers. Be more present in daily life. Enjoy every second of this gorgeous summer that has started to pop up- especially you Minnesotans- because being honest, we don't have that much summer to enjoy. What will you do to be more present in daily life?