Live in the present

stuff that makes everyday special..

a vase of fresh flowers
soft candlelight
burning essential oils
a colourful bowl of fruit
walking at twilight
companionship
beautiful paintings
fresh bread baking
a warm embrace
hot coffee in the morning
crisp linen
fine dark chocolate
soft fluffy towels
red geraniums
organic red wine
a tender kiss
an open fire
road trips
belly laughs
quiet scrabble nignts
puppies
satin lingerie
coco chanel eau de parfum
a good film
wild landscapes
swimming in the ocean
my sunbeam mix master
sunset by a lake
a long scented bath
hot water bottles
animal slippers
flannelette jim jams
Mum’s place
NZ pure merino wool garments
flamenco music
richly scented roses
fresh minty breath
raindrops on rooftops
warm woollen mittens
the sound of the ocean
sea shells
thunderstorms
good book and a long night in
tabasco sauce
a sizzling barbeque
sunrise
floating
a rousing game of monopoly
slow foot massages
wind chimes
lush green lawn
bedtime stories
fine art
strawberry shortcake
sunday roast
christmas
anything angora
anything alpaca
fridge magnets
shiny new projects
journaling
lazy day shopping
steam trains
bookstores
lop-eared rabbits
piglets
sunny days
cuddles
looney tunes
baby’s bottoms
a dinner party
chocolate self-saucing pudding
slow dancing
jigsaw puzzles
picnics
boating
a thermos of hot soup
roller coasters
carnivals
kid’s films
walking in beautiful landscapes
swirling snowflakes
crisp apple strudel
classic films (1930-1960)
frogs-a-croaking
juicy red papaya
being in love
nookie
tree-ripened apricots
coconut tanning oil
any drink with a tiny umbrella in it
fresh raspberries and cream
ABC’s ‘Swoon’ collection of classical music
jasmine tea
fragrant curries
learning something new

Would love to hear of others favorite things! But please keep it G-rated for the kiddies!

It’s my last week at work.

Now that I’m finally leaving, it’s not necessary to psyche myself into believing good things about my job in order to cope with it’s drudgery. I see it for what it really is – a life & passion draining experience.

I can’t wait to finish. I can’t wait until this week is over. Let it come soon! How can I endure another 5 days?

Oops. Hang on a minute. What happened to living in the present?

Afterall, this will be the last week I’ll see my office ever again! It’ll also be the last time I see many of my co-workers again. It’s a historic week. Do I want to miss living it?

This week marks the end of a long chapter in my life. It began in 1999 when I withdrew from med school due to poor health. I ended up in a ‘good enough job’ I didn’t particularly relish to earn a passable income. Eight years later in 2007 I am finally free to do what I love, to be true to myself and follow my blueprint for life.

How I will live in the present this week:

• I’ll luxuriate in the bland boringness of my work with the heart-warming realization that I’ll be leaving it all behind very soon!
• Every minute of this week I will feel gratitude that I have the opportunity to follow my heart and do what I’m passionate about.
• I’ll take extra time to see people, say my farewells, tidy my space and have closure.

“In today already walks tomorrow.“

~Friedrich von Schiller

I am learning that everyday is precious and should be celebrated and lived to the fullest. Now is important, because I make my life today.

I’ve been thinking some more about the principle of ‘living in the present’ – you know, cherishing every moment of life and not living just for some distant, rosy future? How do I apply this principle at work? I spend the best part of five days a week there and that’s a big chunk of precious life!

Sadly, I don’t really like my work. To me, my work serves two basic functions: provides a decent pay to fund the rest of my life, and a provides a secure future through an above average superannuation plan. That’s about as compelling as it gets!

Let’s see – there are 112 waking hours in the week, 40 of them, about 35% of the week, are spent at work. Hey, that doesn’t sound too bad (and it doesn’t include public holidays and annual leave).

All the same, 1/3 of my waking life is still a decent chunk.
How can I make these hours more fulfilling?

While listing all the great and wonderful plans for my life on my “1001 Things To Do Before I Die”, I realized that something was missing. As wonderful and inspiring as this list is, it focusses mostly on the future. But what about today? We can only live a day at a time!

So in addition to my goals for the future I want to make each day special, meaningful and rich too. To keep me focussed have another list! “Things To Do Today”!

God has given me today, this one precious day and counselled me to live one day at a time (Matthew 6:34, the Bible).