Happy first of December! 

This month I want to focus on the word ‘Present’. Not because of Christmas, although that’s probably something that a lot of people are beginning to think about. Certainly I’ve been thinking about it for the past few weeks, but let’s leave the past in the past, and the upcoming Christmas celebrations in the future and focus on the present.

It’s interesting isn’t it, how that word has multiple meanings? I want to focus on the meaning of living in the present. In the present moment rather than the past or future. It’s hard I know, because right now the present has a lot of annoying things about it, not least because of COVID-19 and the situation we’re living in.

But there are good things too in this present moment, and maybe that’s what we should focus on. What we’re grateful for right now. I’m grateful for the fact my anxiety levels have dropped and I’m getting better. I had a really tough time for a good two months, hence the lack of blog posts, but now I’m seeing the light at the end of the anxiety tunnel. Writing this piece right now is scary, but I hope that it inspires others to think about this present moment in time.

This present moment in time, I’m sipping a cup of tea and writing this blog post. Feeling the words in my head come spilling out onto the page. I have things that are waiting for me to finish, like the fact I baked a gingerbread loaf cake and it’s sitting cooling, waiting for me to wrap it up and leave it overnight to mature. I’ve also got my Christmas colouring book waiting for me to pick it back up again whilst watching The Holiday – as part of my 24 Christmas Films for Advent. 

But right now I’m focusing on the present moment, because that’s so important. There’s always things waiting for our attention, and there’s always past moments we dwell on either in happiness, sadness, or frustration. But if we live in the present moment we notice more, see more, perhaps even experience more. Isn’t that the essence of mindfulness? 

I’m a bit in the future myself, because of my anxiety, but the past few months – maybe even the past year – I’ve spent it thinking of the past and all my experiences with friends and family, hoping for more of those experiences in the future. It’s nice to reminisce but I try not to get too sad about the fact that I can’t see my friends before the end of the year. I’m lucky that I’m with my family though, living with my parents for the moment, and knowing I’ll be spending Christmas with them as well rather than on my own.

Maybe I also want to focus on the word present in terms of ‘presenting’, in terms of presenting my thoughts and opinions on this blog. Like I said, the word has many meanings. My intention is just to live each day as it comes and live in the present on that day, trying not to worry about the next day, or dwell on the past, but live in the moments of that day and what I’m doing.

It’s the first of December today, the first day of Advent, and though I’m not really religious, I like to celebrate Advent by doing something Christmassy each day. So that’s how I’m living the word Present this month. 

What’s your Word of the Month for December, and how are you living it this month?