I love being at the beach, it’s how I spend my weekends. It recharges me and it’s where I do my thinking and reflecting. However, this only works if I’m actually present whilst I’m at the beach. If I sit on the sand and replay all the things I wish I’d done better that week I’m actually at work not at the beach.
When I get present and feel the sand between my toes, the salt water on my skin and the sun on my face. Watch the sunlight reflect off the water, listen to the sounds of the waves and the birds – that’s when I’m really at the beach.
If we’re not present, we may as well not be there.
It’s how we can waste precious moments, holidays of a lifetime. We may be there physically but mentally we’re somewhere else. If we’re not present, we’re not there it’s as simple as that.
Being present to the moment is one thing, appreciating it is another and the second side of this coin. If we don’t appreciate what we have we may as well not have it. Ever moved into a new house and it’s got the best view? Or got a new car or partner that just seems amazing? Then the novelty wears off and you stop noticing the view, you see it every day. Then all of a sudden it’s like you don’t have a view. This is what appreciation does. Allow yourself to ‘have’ the things you ‘have’ by appreciating them. The same applies here - If we don’t appreciate what we’ve got we may as well not have it.
If you’ve come across people with wealth in the bank who live a very poor life you’ve probably seen the best example of this.
So step one is being present – be where your feet are so that you’re really there and then the second step is appreciating that so you can enjoy what you have. Whether that’s a day at the beach, a great view, the sunset or your holiday of a lifetime.