“There was danger, he felt, of overrunning himself, and he had to hold onto his awareness of the present, sensing the blurred deflection of experience, the flowing moment, the continual solidification of that-which-is into the perpetual-was.“
– from Dune by Frank Herbert.
Time is a river.
We often hear that life only consists of the present – a series of moments that are past us before we realise they occurred. We stand in a river, and the flowing water is the passing of time. The future and past can never be experienced; we can only experience now. And now. And now. While obvious, it’s worth remembering.
Turn off autopilot.
It’s vital to stop and think about this often, so we remember to appreciate the moment, and not always postpone enjoyment of life to ensure a “better future”. If we are always focused on our future circumstances, we may forget to appreciate what we have already. “Living in the future” – whether preparing for or worrying about it – is necessary, but potentially very harmful, if left unbounded.
A net for catching days.
I find regular reflection helps to turn off autopilot: things like journaling, meditation, and being mindful while walking and eating. Journaling is particularly useful – a net for catching days. By criticising my thoughts, feelings, and how I’m spending my time, I get less lost in the frenzy of life. To me, that is so important: to remain aware of your direction, to scrutinise whether this direction is correct, and check whether your actions are in keeping with this direction. In other words, to live with intention.