Be Present

I’ve been pondering on why it is so hard for any of us to be present in the moment. Just be present.

First I looked back on my life. Seems I can remember as far back as two years old and being a big sister, I grew up fast, mimicking being a Mom to not only my baby doll, but being a Mom to my little sister, who loved it until one day she realized, it was not fun having two Mom’s watching your every move 24/7. LOL! What I recall was being so intent of bring there for my sister, and Mom and Dad, when they needed help with my sister, be it a burp rag, a blanket, pacifier, toy or whatever, I was the self proclaimed Mom in training. I relished being present in those moments. Through my parents love, they poured more love, they kept themselves open to growing, nurturing and protecting our family. In those growing up years, there were lean times, but Mom and Dad, both, made meals around the table the norm in our home, beginning with a Blessing and Giving Thanks prayer before we feasted together, and gave each of us the time to share our day. They truly listened when we shared our silly little day, even when we would throw one of our siblings under the bus for being brat, they would laugh, and let all involved share their side of the squabble, and remind us, it was not the time or place to tattle on another, and we’d settle down and kick the tattle tail under the table, and that would create a bit of a stir, but we would all end up laughing, when Mom would copy us and kick Dad inner the table, and the both would act like us, and we would all be in fits of laughter enjoying one another in those present moments.

I move to recalling, my high school years, when we are supposed to be spreading our wings, and can see now our self-absorbed, it had evolved into at the time, and even more so now. The concept of this highschooling is not conducive to aiding teenages in cultivating their interests at all. We throw them into a cesspool of vipers, shine a spotlight on them, and watch to see if they will sink or swim. They are given four years to figure out, who and what they are and who they want to be, telling them, the decision they make at 14 or 15 will stick for their lives. If the shock of the enormity of this decision isn’t enough, we further demand “all” students obtain the highest grades, while making themselves look like a well-roubded individual. If they are lucky to be give a counselor at all,, they are given a checklist of what they need to do in order to be accepted into the obtaining a degree or pass, I call it,, to work for more than minimum wages.. the checklist includes participating in as many sports as possible (every one gives you a leg up), participate in academic decathlon, speech and debate teams, drama, choir, enter every science & physics workshop, receive enough social service hours with a volunteering for a diverse range of social justice, cultural, city and state projects to become a Saint, (NOTE As of 2015, in gov’t high schools and colleges any volunteering done in any Church projects are no not accepted as volunteering hours.) while being a member of the high school choir, band, orchestra, running and holding a student body office position, and still have time to wear the fashion of the week, hairstyle of the minute, and hang out with the coolest kids of the second on campus, while keeping your mind intake. Talk about kicking or teenages out of the nest into the perverbial den of vipers, making them feel all eye are on them, and they must focus on themselves 24/7, as the end game is all about who and what they will become, and there is no room for staying in the present moment for its all about their future. WOW! Talk about throughing our kids to the wolves with a full length mirror surrounding them. This is when the indoctrination to be so self absorbed is fast and furiously pressed in and can solidify in a person’s mind. The mantra of its all about me and what I want, what I need, and the more boxes I check off on my to do list I will be given a diploma aka pass to move on to a higher mode of learning to be even more self absorbed into the “Its all about me” movement, where I receive another pass to work and demand a ridiculous salary for my pass that taught me the world revolves around me. Talk about being hit in the face with a real present moment, when you

Written by Deanna G. DeBondt

11:11pm

June 9, 2022