Something seemed wrong with the way I was living my life. I was always caught up in thoughts of my future and plagued by worries from my past. I envied people who seemed to be carefree with no problems, simply absorbed in whatever was happening around them. How are they managing that? I couldn’t figure it out, but recognizing I wanted a change in my life, I began searching for the “hidden ability” these people had. I soon realized they seemed to be simply putting their thoughts and mind entirely into the now.

Beginning the search for the elusive now began by attempting to find others who had already discovered it. I wanted to learn what a life in the moment looked like. My searching took me to, surprisingly enough, my fourth graders. Every morning, they show up to school and have usually forgotten the previous day’s problems. They don’t seem troubled by the math quiz they couldn’t complete or the detention they suffered through forever. Arriving with smiles and energy, they seem like they’re ready to tackle anything. I watch each of them as they hit new roadblocks, their frustration or hurt pouring out. However, a class game is about to start and, snapping out of their gloomy mood, they become completely absorbed. Seeing their ability to get out of a bad mood with simple games shows me some of the benefits of taking life day by day.

Taking what I have seen and applying it to my life, presented a new challenge. I struggled through trying to put into practice what I had seen. A good start was involving myself more with everything around me. Adults, kids, and nature love to be appreciated and listened to. Waking up to this realization, I throw myself into each day determined to value everyone and everything. I’ve become more active in people’s lives and committed myself to activities. Coaching, exercising, giving students extra help, and getting to know and care for others pushes me towards this elusive now that I was seeking. I was on my way towards life in the moment and living the way my fourth graders do each and every day.

I don’t know how many days I will be blessed to see. Experiencing and valuing each to its fullest is now one of my priorities. Every day should be loaded with new memories. After all, I don’t know my future, so I can’t live out the memories yet to come, and I can’t change or create any more past memories. The present is what I can affect and I should be putting my focus on living in the moment and enjoying the potential and freedom it brings.