BE Present - reading #1

from Journey into the Heart by Melody Beattie

Learn to be Present

"I haven't been able to give you much materially," he said, 'not jewelry, diamonds, gold.  But the gift Ive given you, what I've had to offer, is staying fully present for you."

Presence is a gift - staying fully present for friends, family, ourselves, our lives.  Staying in the moment, with our hearts open, will change other people's lives and ours.

So often we've learned, out of habit or fear, to be only partially present, partially conscious, for ourselves, others and our lives. We aren't certain what we're feeling: our attention and energy are diverted to the next place, the next person. We are there, kind of.

There's another way, a better way. One where we keep our heart open and know what we feel.  We take the risk of being vulnerable enough to share who we really are and to allow others to do the same.  We become fully present for each moment and each person on our path.

Yes, there are times when it isn't safe to be open, when the energy of a circumstance isn't right for us. But that usually reveals a lesson and dictates a choice.  It may be time to learn, time to leave, time to feel, time to choose.

Learn to release all that stands in the way of you and the present moment. Learn to let go of all that blocks you from being fully present for yourself and others.

Give the gift of presence to yourself and to the world.