Every moment has meaning, but can you truly find the moment or the meaning?
I have often spoken about the power of being in the moment, especially when it comes to connection.
I also had the pleasure of listening to Fred Penner talk at TEDxLaurier, where I was hosting, about how every moment is precious. Then when he sang a few songs I was transfixed on him, the words and the moment I was participating in.
So when a professional I trust told me I needed to be more in the moment, I almost scoffed. I mean hey, I talk about this stuff all the time, I value it, I think I live it too. But do I really?
Well yes, in certain cases. When I meet up with someone for coffee or lunch, I am listening, engaging and trying to connect on a deep and authentic level as I can. When I do my weekly Tweetchat, called #PoCchat every Monday at 11am on Twitter, I find moments of meaning with every interaction I have there. Every place I go where there are people I want to engage with, I engage as deeply as I can.
But what about with myself?
Now I am all for interpersonal intelligence and for knowing who I am and what my Personal brand is. But my self reflection has not gone far enough. I was given an exercise to try. I was supposed to take a shower and just be in the moment for myself. I had to just feel the water, the soap and try not to think about anything else. It was tough! I kept singing songs, or thinking about my day, or planning an e-mail or a cool tweet to send.
I was fully aware of what needed to be done and what my current ‘communication status’ was with my e-mails and social media updates. But I just couldn’t get through one entire 5-7 minute shower (I’m pretty fast too!) without having my mind head elsewhere. I’d feel the soap on my arm or the shampoo in my hair and then all of the sudden I hear “So call me maybe”.
I realized that I have some work to do and being mindful and in the true moment is important. But critical is the ability is to be mindful for your own sake. My being in the moment had always been focused on being with others. Now I realize it should also be about being with my self. After reading the following poem, combined with my struggle to shower without an outside thought, I started to get it.
Love After Love
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
– Derek Walcott
So continue to treasure every moment — whether with your kids, your family, your friends, your work. But also find moments to treasure your own soul and being.
Because if every moment counts, then can’t the moments that are solely your own be among the most precious?
Bobby Umar draws on his diverse 20-year career to lead Raeallan, whose mission is to discover, inspire and develop Leadership, with a background in brand marketing, engineering and the performing arts. Thousands of people across North America have felt an authentic connection with Bobby’s energetic keynotes and funny personal stories on Personal Branding, Networking and Social Media. He has spoken at TEDx 4 times, is an Executive Education instructor and a fiercely proud new dad. You can follow @RaehanBobby on Twitter.
