That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway.

When times are tough, I have a hard time staying centered, or focused on a single thing. My mind wanders to what I “should” be doing or to my troubles. So making the effort to “be here now” feels Herculean. Like, today. I keep thinking of the long to-do list and mentally preparing for things to come. It’s not easy to come back to the present moment!

But just like in meditation, I’m trying to accept that my efforts won’t be perfect. (If you’ve never meditated, there’s a basic concept you should know: most teachers say it doesn’t matter if you can’t sit with a perfectly “empty” mind - that thoughts WILL come into your mind, and the goal is to acknowledge their presence and then release them, without judgement or self-criticism. Nice, huh?)

Sometimes the simple fact that I’m remembering that I want to be mindful is an accomplishment. Sure, I might not be awesome today when it comes to finding time to relax in the present moment, but the concept keeps popping into my mind. Maybe that means I’m being more mindful. Maybe by the end of these 30 days, I’ll be more generally mindful and present in each passing moment. Wouldn’t that be awesome?

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. :)