What do Driving Tests, Symphonies & Dancing have in common?

Answer: "You live them in the moment". Programmed to be seeking destinations, we miss a lot of life along the way. We need to be Present-Moment-Centred. The destination centred life has been compared with the idea of going to a concert and only being interested in the last note. Life is a journey. Let us be present.

Transcript

Dear friends,

Welcome to this period of quiet reflection.

The aim of this meditation is to help us become aware of and express gratitude for what we have right here in this present moment.

So we'll begin by taking a moment to get into a comfortable position,

If possible in a regular place which makes it easier to establish the habit.

Eyes closed if you wish,

But open if you prefer.

Feet on the ground so as to help you feel grounded.

Notice your breathing and with each breath see if you can deliberately relax and let go of any tension of body or mind.

Breathing in and breathing out.

Relax.

All is well.

All will be well.

An opening thought from Dr.

Seuss.

How did it get so late so soon?

It's night before it's afternoon.

December is here before it's June.

My goodness how the time has flown.

How did it get so late so soon?

Maybe it is just me but I suspect most of us are destination centred.

I have a little stone on my mantelpiece which says,

Life is a journey,

Not a destination.

I believe that in theory but what about the daily practice?

So can we spend now a period in quiet reflection thinking of where we are just now,

What we have just now,

All the reasons for gratitude and happiness that are right here under our noses if only we remember to pay attention.

Welcome back.

This destination centred life has been compared with the idea of going to a concert and only being interested in the last note.

That would be a strange thing to do even for some concerts which we know come to a marvellous climax.

No thank you,

I don't need Beethoven's 9th symphony,

Just give me a ticket for the Ode to Joy.

Or I'll sit outside having a beer during the messiah but give me a text when they get near the hallelujah chorus.

You know the idea.

So now can we spend a period in quiet reflection casting our minds back to just one day,

Yesterday,

And asking how much of it was enjoyed or noticed as it happened.

How much was lost in thinking of something better that lies ahead?

How much were we focused on the destination?

Did we enjoy or even notice the journey?

Welcome back.

Alan Watts has a wonderful reflection on how when we are very young we eagerly await the day when we'll be a little older.

When we will leave school,

Leave college,

Complete our education,

Find a rewarding job,

Find the right life partner,

Have a nice house,

Have children,

A nice car,

Security as we think,

Until one day we wake up and see that we've lived a great deal of our lives all in the future.

As Shakespeare put it in the play Macbeth,

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death.

So now can we spend the next period of quiet reflection asking how can we remind ourselves to live in and enjoy the present moment?

How can we pull ourselves back from fantasy and prompt ourselves to be aware and thankful in the here and now?

That's the reason for the title of this meditation,

Driving test symphonies and dancing,

What have they got in common?

All these things have one thing in common,

They happen in the here and the now.

On a driving test you're only asked to take one turn at a time.

Welcome back.

Tick-knock hand refers to the present moment as a wonderful moment.

In this present moment we have the capacity to be aware,

To love,

To express gratitude,

To take lessons from the past without living in the past,

To actively plan for the future without lapsing into daydream.

For a short while let's just relax in the awareness of this present moment as a wonderful moment.

Welcome back again.

We cannot really finish our reflection on the present moment without asking what use are we making of it?

We all have an equal number of minutes in the day.

We pay less attention to our minutes than we do to our wallets.

When we go out to buy something we generally try to find an article that represents reasonable value for money,

Knowing that we don't have an unlimited quantity of it.

But we forget that our time is just as limited,

Maybe more limited,

And yet we can let our time slip away in mindless activity,

Telegaping,

Reading the papers,

Mindlessly surfing online.

I don't mean to criticise any of these activities done to some reasonably planned extent,

Nor do I suggest that we fill every minute of our time.

There's a lot to be said for deliberate idleness,

We need more of it in fact,

Just to be aware that our time is a resource not to be mindlessly let slip by.

So can we spend a little time now thinking of how we value our time?

If we had to draw it out like money from an ATM,

We would be more careful as to how we spend it.

Welcome back again.

We conclude with a thought from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

But we postpone or remember,

We do not live in the present,

But with reverted eye lament the past,

Or heedless of the riches that surround us,

Stand on tiptoe to foresee the future.

We cannot be happy or strong until we too live with nature in the present moment,

Above time.

Namaste.

Reviews

As ever, there are some really useful and thought-provoking metaphors here, Tony. Thank you so much for sharing this wisdom 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Poignant message for today as I made the journey back “home” to visit family and friends! 🙏🏻

The title is perfect for this meditation.
I love your comparison and quotes. Brings a point across a lot stronger and easy to grasp.
Dr. Seuss had some great quotes!
Thanks for starting my day with a smile Tony.

Love all of Tonys meditations..they set me up for the day..and help me be in the moment, and learn from the quotes too calmed by the pauses and music..perfect.

Such a beautiful reminder to be in the present moment, to appreciate and be greatful for what is.

Wonderful Tony, the ATM for time metaphor was brilliant. 🙏🏼

Thanks for sharing this gentle reminder to live in the moment. 🙏

What a wonderful reminder that the present is indeed a great gift. Namaste 🤓🙏🏻

Another excellent meditation, Tony.
Life really is a journey not a destination.
I enjoyed all your reflection questions on how to stay in the present moment. I like the thought of using our time like we use our money. We must be frugal with our time otherwise we waste our lives, & ask ourselves : “where did all my time go?”
Thank you for your wonderful lessons! Namaste 🙏

I have often been too focused on the future; I am striving to be more present. Thanks for all those wonderful quotes Tony 🙏🏻🌺

What a fantastic meditation! You always find the best reference to add thought to. I’ve been trying to be in more of the moment of time each day. Paying attention more. I go for daily walks outside and listen and see the beautiful and wonder of this land we are so lucky to have. Really enjoy my time with my loved ones and friends. It seems the older we get the faster time goes by. So I’m making the most of each moment. Thanks again Tony. Hope you enjoy your day. 🙏🏻💕

Thank you Tony for this beautiful and calming practice to start this day.

Thank you for this marvelous message. It was like opening a gift that revealed another present wrapped inside. The wisdom was so beautifully layered, I have bookmarked to listen often. 🙏🏻

What a beautiful and simple way to look at everything and think about presence 💕 I loved this short guide

I love how you present your thoughts, helping me see things from a different perspective.
Sometimes I get busy and forget the journey and treasuring the present moment. Thank you for the lovely reminders 💖💖💖💖

This was stupendous ( I’ve used all the other words too many times). with every word I felt happier and happier inside somehow!!!

Thank you 🙏✨🙋🏼‍♀️🌺 Tony for the reminder of enjoying the present moment. Blessings to you! 😘 I always enjoy the wisdom and kindness of your meditations.

Tony you never disappoint my friend, that was fantastic

Wonderfully clear ideas that remind me to stay present 😆 Thankyou for this, 🙏 Tony💕

An excellent Be Here Now session. Thanks Tony 🙏