Sioux's blog: The Power of Living in the Moment

My husband and I have recently been reflecting on why living in the moment is so important. It all started with a conversation about why he had decided to buy some credits in a computer game he was playing – something he doesn’t often do. When I asked him why he doesn’t usually do this and why he chose to now, it sparked a much deeper conversation. He said he often hadn’t in the past as it felt like an unwise use of his money. He should save that money for the future, for something more important not so frivolous. I asked him how much joy his gaming brings him though and why surely buying this game pack at the cost of a beer down the pub was a good investment in the here and now – the joy of today.

And it got us talking. How often do we deny ourselves today to save something for the future. How much do we endure in the here and now for the promise of something better further down the line. And how often does that “something” never actually materialise or, if it does, it isn’t worth the sacrifices made beforehand.

Now I am not advocating being totally reckless and spending every penny today because tomorrow doesn’t matter or that you indulge every whim but I do think as a society we put too much focus and weight on the promise of the future.

And I’ve been reflecting on this and how it has impacted my career aspirations. I am fortunate enough to love my job and find it incredibly fulfilling and I’ve you’d have asked me 5 years ago what was most important to me, my career would have been up there. Then I had my son. And suddenly the sacrifices I was making for future promotions and progression didn’t jive with my desire to be there for my son at pick up time, be able to take a day off work when he was sick and not work weekends to get ahead. The in the moment of being present for him brought me so much joy and so my career has taken a step back. Not that I don’t want to progress, I absolutely do but during these early formative years of Arthur’s life, the today wins out.

I also have a friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer which brought this concept into sharp focus. Suddenly the future was uncertain for them and plans had to be stripped back. They had to live for today because tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed and they said it was actually quite liberating. They felt they could make decisions for today that in the past would have left them feeling guilty. And actually isn’t today, this moment, the only thing we have for sure? My friend has very fortunately had successful chemo and surgery and is now on the mend but they are keeping their new mindset of recognising the preciousness of today.

Because today is precious. And you never get today back. So I, for one, will be living more in the moment.

Sioux lives in a village outside Milton Keynes with her husband, young son, 3 cats and 2 dogs. When not managing the chaos of home, she works for a large housing association looking after health, wellbeing and engagement.