In Two Places at Once

I am increasingly aware of a habit I practice. It is the habit of being in two places at once.

While I am in one place physically, I am in an entirely different place mentally.

My awareness has come only by practicing being present (being all there) wherever I am, both physically and mentally. The inspiration comes through Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. Excellent book.

I notice that while my body is at the breakfast table with my family, my mind is on the appointment scheduled two hours ahead.

Or, while my body is sitting on the couch talking with my husband, my mind is mulling over a conflict I had a week ago. Maybe three months ago. Maybe seven years ago.

How to get my mind to be present where I am.

How to.

And it begins with every day.

Every moment.

Constant practice. Isn't that how habits are formed in the first place? Constant practice?

This habit of being fully present isn't completely new to me. I have dabbled in it over the years. One of the quotes in Voskamp's book is from Jim Elliot (Christian missionary who was murdered in 1956). "Wherever you are, be all there." It was a quote I used to recite when my kids were little. I didn't want to miss a thing!

But time and life pulled me back into the bad habit of the insane, busy, impossibility of being in two places at once. Crazy!

So today at the threshold of a long to-do list, I practiced my newly forming habit of being in one place at one time.

On my deck, watching the sun come up over the pond.

As I watched, I saw what I thought were small leaves blowing around over the sumac trees.

I kept practicing. Disciplining my mind to stay with me. On the deck.

No, don't run ahead to the day's tasks.

I watched the leaves. Odd thing for early summer, falling leaves.

But looking more closely, I realized they weren't leaves at all. They were dancing dragonflies. Putting on an amazing aerial show.

I decided to go down to the pond and take a closer look. I met a friend along the way. Sunbathing.

And I met another friend.

And favorite flowers.

Then, I sat on the dock watching the dragonflies up high. Dancing for an audience of one.

The sun was coming up over the pines. And my mind stayed with my body. And it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Eventually, the sun stopped hiding behind the trees.

So I told myself it was time.

Time to go and practice being in one place at one time somewhere else.