I heard something yesterday that immediately made me think of Eckhart Tolle. My new Facebook friend had quoted someone else, whose name I do not know; but it was this: “When you set your alarm for tomorrow, you set it today. Eckhart reminds us that it is always now. Even if we are thinking about the past or worrying about the future, we are doing it in the present moment. My friend went on to say how she liked to prepare the night before, for the coming day. Initially, I thought that is not living in the moment. That is living for a future that has not yet arrived and missing out on the current moment. However; the more I pondered this, I realized that making preparations makes perfect sense. Our lives do require a certain amount of planning; and making plans actually frees us to enjoy more moments. Like my friend, I also make preparations. I make preparations on Sunday evenings, for the work week ahead. By putting the tasks before me in order, making lists, prioritizing, and efficiently completing smaller tasks, I help ensure a restful night’s sleep and I can move into the next day free of anxiety. Knowing that I have covered all my bases, I can be fully present in tomorrow’s moments.
I have a mental checklist of things that I need to do prior to leaving my house. Turning down the thermostat, turning off lights, unplugging small appliances, and making certain my cat has food and fresh water while I am away, are a few of the things that I regularly make a point of doing. Then, when I get into my vehicle, I can be completely present while I am driving. Once I have arrived at work, I do not have to be stressed, worrying whether or not I turned off the oven. I can put my full attention on my job at hand.
As a gardener, I know that gardening sustainably requires us to mimic Mother Nature as much as possible. Our planet, the seasons, and pretty much everything that we can observe, reflects Nature’s order. When we create order in our lives, as well as in our gardens, we are following the rules of nature. I learned years ago that I do not like coming home to a dirty kitchen and a sink full of dirty dishes. I like even less, waking up to a grimy kitchen and I will not cook in it without first cleaning it. I want to have a clean slate so to speak, upon waking in the morning, without the remains of yesterday to sully it. When we take care of those things that require our attention in the moment, we are allowed to enjoy the next moment. Procrastination only leads to rushing about and running amok throughout our day in a futile attempt to “catch up” because we did not plan. Forgetfulness, confusion, perpetual anxiousness, and even fear are a result of putting off those things that could have been easily prepared for ahead of time. The important thing is to be conscious in each and every moment, even as we prepare for the next.
