While having dinner with my sister in-law, also a new
mother, we couldn’t stop talking about how fast the time has gone since our
deliveries, and how much our sons have grown and developed. This conversation about time flying, made us over analyze why exactly time passes so fast when sometimes, during pregnancy for example,
time seems to stand still?
We decided that we spend so much time wrapped in worry,
thoughts of tomorrow and looking to the next big thing coming into our lives,that we waste half the day in this cycle. And then, I hate to admit it, my mother–in-law’s voice
came into my head. A while ago when I was stressing out about my husbands Visa she said to me, “Today is the tomorrow you worried
about yesterday.” Meaning I need to live for today and let tomorrow work itself
out, since I have no control over it.
Right now in my life, I am worried about getting
a job, keeping my family insured, wondering when my son will finally roll over, feeding him solid foods and a million other things. All of these things are going to take time to
happen, so no amount of worry or work will resolve my issues instantly. I need to just live for today and
let tomorrow work itself out.
SO MUCH EASIER SAID THEN DONE!!! Well, in the few hours since our talk, I can tell you that it
is worth the hard work and mind refocusing. Every time I start to worry or think about tomorrow, I take a
deep breath, open my eyes wide and take in my environment. I look around and focus on what is directly in front of me. When I do this, the amount of stress, anxiety and the
actual feeling of weight being lifted off of my shoulders is AMAZING!
I challenge you, and I say challenge because it is not easy,
to do the same. When you start to
worry or have anxiety over something you cannot control or instantly fix, take
a deep breath, open your eyes wide and drink in your surroundings until you
have let go of whatever it is that is bothering you. Even if you look around and see a dirty house and start obsessing
over that, at least you can do something about it now. At least you will be
productive cleaning, rather than staring into space about something you cannot
fix now or maybe even ever.
I really have it in my head that if I actively refocus my
negative energy into the present moment, I will no longer let time fly pass me. Fully living in each moment I will no longer have as much fear and anxiety
about the future. If nothing
else, living in the moment will give me way more quality time with my beautiful
son.
