Don’t forget to live the moment

This past weekend I spent the day at the snow with my kids. It was snowing heavily and we were wading through mounds of it. I was following our toddler around, picking him up every time he fell onto his back and couldn’t dig himself out of the snow, picking up his mittens, putting them back on, picking up his beanie, putting it back on, and so on.

Meanwhile dad got to play with my older boys on the sled and make snowmen. I was a little bit frustrated that I couldn’t even put my gloves on because if I did the baby was sure to drop his mittens and I’d have to take off my gloves and put his on again. Plus I was tired of trudging behind him as he seemingly toddled in circles doing nothing really fun.

Then I took a deep breath and looked up to the sky. Big fat flakes fell all over my face. Snowflakes dangled from my hair. The air was fresh and crisp and stung my cheeks just a little. The boys were having a blast and the baby was experiencing something he had never experienced before. I was living a moment. And I almost missed it by complaining and getting short tempered. I was in a moment and in that moment, my part was to follow this baby around and pick up his glove when it fell. That was my task in that special moment, the role I was supposed to play.

This living in the moment reminder hit me once again the next day as I dressed the baby for the snow once again. He just let me dress him–in snow bibs, boots an oversized down jacket, you know, all the necessary snow gear. And being a beach baby it probably wasn’t his preference but he didn’t complain much, then just went outside to play. He lives in the moment every day. He just looks at us as if to say “What’s on tap today? Gardening, OK that’s cool, I’m in.” I mean it could be anything, and he just lives that moment, whatever we’re doing with no expectation, just experiencing.

How does this apply to business? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the tasks that need to be done. Reaching the goal. But sometimes we are so focused on the outcome we forget to pay attention to the ride. If you are a blogger or in a business that you started because you are passionate about it then you are missing out by not focusing on living the moment.

When things get overwhelming remind yourself to live in the moment. You don’t have to forget about the end goal, but stop and take in the details of what you are doing right then. Be thankful for the experience. Suddenly life and work get so much richer.

In what ways do you remind yourself to live in the moment?