Be Where You Are

The sun was shining above my large beach umbrella, as I reclined in a white Muskoka chair, munched on a fresh kaiser sandwich, and sipped a cold Diet Coke (now covered in sand... thanks friend :P).

The kids under the neighbouring umbrella were laughing and making sandcastles with their mom while taking breaks to run through the nearby splash pad. They seemed to be having the time of their lives.

The sun, the breeze, and my Diet Coke made for a phenomenal afternoon. These moments are often rare and fleeting, especially for those us living in a dense metropolis (one in which even the summer season is unpredictable and usually short lived).

I later walked through the city and into the BCE Place (a prominent business complex in the downtown core) to catch the subway. As I paced through the corridor, I noticed a sign in big black letters. It read:

These words made me think about being where I was in that place in time. I was nowhere particularly special or important- just walking through on my way home. I realized that is precisely the point. Understand?

How often would you imagine business men and women pacing this large hallway without truly realizing where they are with clarity and actualization.

If every moment of life is to be precious, why don't we make a greater concentrated effort to make them matter?

We might be tired, stressed, or in a rush, but it's so important that we are present here and now, wherever we are. Our livelihood craves it, and those we spend time with deserve it.

In order to soak up the warm rays of life, and hear the children laughing beside us, we need to truly BE where we are- look around, enjoy the scenery, and love your life in any way you can.

If we can do this, maybe we will be laughing like the beach children too. And just maybe we'll be running through the splash pad ourselves!