This Moment Matters

The Space Inbetween

Most of us live a greater proportion of lives our lives in either the past or the future.  We reminisce on what we said or did or we plan what we will say or do at some point in the future (even if its in the next 5 minutes).  If you’re anything like me, then you may be prone to devising witty and intelligent retorts ….long after the conversation is well over.  Perhaps you can identify with working your way through your ‘to do’ list in your head.  Now, I am not naming this by way of judgement. I am simply stating a truth because the consequence of this is very significant in my life and indeed, through our universal connection with one another, all of our lives.

If we persist in living in the past and future, we’ll miss LIFE that is actually (and only ever) happening in the present moment.  MY LIFE, YOUR LIFE, OUR LIVES.

Eckhart Tolle attributes this avoidance of the present moment to our Superego.  Our Superego or ‘self critic’ can only exist in either the past or the future; telling us that we are ‘better than’ (pride) or ‘not good enough’ (shame).  It has no voice or purpose in the present.  This is where our TRUE BEING resides and only here will we access our own voice of wisdom and knowledge.

The present happens moment by moment.  Many have written widely and practiced intensely on how to reside in the present and hence become present to oneself and LIFE. This is my apprenticeship.  Acknowledging the value of the present moment supports me to be present.

This poem flowed through me, for a friend, a number of years ago.  I am truly grateful to her for allowing me to share it with you and for the gift of her friendship.

Moments

This moment is Real,
Alive,
Now,
Painful,
Precious,
Necessary,
Unbearable,
Honourable,
Timeless,
All,
Wisdom,
Breath,
Everything,
Universal,
Infinite.
This moment is.
This moment matters.

 

Published by The Space Inbetween

My name is Paula Carroll, a 46 year old woman, a mother of 3, a wife of 15 years, one of 5 siblings, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law, an aunt to 11 nieces and nephews, a teacher of 20 years …. and in many ways, living an ordinary, full and modern life and all that that entails in 2023. I recognise that I have soooooo much to be grateful for, and yet I live with the burden of an overactive mind that creates, probably thousands, of unnecessary thoughts on a daily basis that impacts upon my capacity to FEEL gratitude for my LIFE and just about anything else. So this blog is a gentle reminder to myself that I am a human BEING and not a human DOING, and that in order to BE, I must pause from DOING. It is my hearts desire to reside more frequently in the space in between my thoughts and tasks; to meet myself there and BE. Many authors have written about the creative process as a means to connect with oneself, and for me, I am drawn to writing when seeking creativity and connection. I’m choosing to blog and make my writing public because I’m pretty sure that I am not the only person on the planet struggling to navigate my way to ‘the space in between’ the business of my mind and life. So maybe others may take something from my journey to help them with theirs….. So to begin, I’ll remind myself of a powerful truth sung by Leonard Cohen…. "A crack in everything is how the light gets in." Here’s to wedging a ‘crack’ between thinking and doing and seeing what light may shine in ‘the space in between’.

2 Comments

  2. Thanks for sharing Paula, I read and re read and will read again just to support and remind me of the now and all I have to be grateful for.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment