In a
world that constantly urges us forward (toward
success, toward the next milestone, toward tomorrow, etc.) presence is the
quiet rebellion of being here, now. It is the act of choosing not to exist in a
fragmented state, divided between yesterday’s memories and tomorrow’s
expectations. Presence is the full embrace of this very moment, with all its
imperfections and beauty.
We live
in a time where the mind is seldom still, because phones buzz, notifications
demand attention, thoughts pull us in different directions. Even in moments of
supposed rest, we are elsewhere – either replaying to all sorts of conversations,
probably pre-empting the future, or simply scrolling endlessly on all sorts of
gadgets, but in doing so, we deny ourselves the rawness of experience.
To be
present it is to shed the weight of distraction; it is to taste food with full
attention, it is to hear the undertones in someone’s voice, it is to feel the
ground beneath our feet…in essence, it is the practice of simply being.
Be still, and listen…the wind whispers
your name. Everything
that matters in this moment it is already here...
On the
other hand, presence is more than mindfulness. Presence it is a form of
reverence, a respect for time itself, and for the breath we are given. It is
sitting in silence and allowing it to settle; it is walking through a forest
and realizing that every leaf has a story, every branch has danced in the wind.
When we
are truly present, we do not live life at its surface, but we dwell in the
depths, in the unnoticed spaces where meaning exists...could be the eyes of a
loved one, holding something unspoken, or the manner in which the morning light
filters through curtains, painting quiet gold across the floor, or just a
simple deep exhale when the body is releasing its held tension.
The sacredness of presence – look,
the sky does not hurry…it unfolds in softness, whispering to the earth: you too may rest!
I truly believe that presence in conversation it is not just about hearing – it
is about understanding and about holding the space for others.
To be
fully present with someone is an act of generosity, which is the opposite of
self-centeredness. In other words, it is saying, “I am here with you, fully”.
We do not rush their thoughts, nor do we impose our own. We allow silence where
it is needed. We offer attention not as a fleeting gift, but as a steady
presence.
Speak to me in pauses, I will hear
your quiet truth. In spaces between words, we meet.
Despite
all our attempts to plan and anticipate, the present moment remains our only
certainty. To ignore it is to abandon life itself. We often think of time as
something slipping away, but perhaps it is only when we cease to notice the
present that it truly escapes us.
Being
present does not mean neglecting the future or disregarding the past. It simply
means honoring what is here, it means living in a way that (when the moment passes) we do not have any regrets.
Concluding here my brief dissertation, I would like
to emphasize that presence
is an art, as well as a practice; it is the choice to immerse oneself in the
richness of now, to see life for what it is, in all its depth and subtlety; it
is the understanding that every breath, every passing moment, is a gift…the
gift of “presence”.
Breathe in the now…it has waited
for you…soft as morning light…steady as the tide.
Let presence be your quiet rebellion against distraction; let it be your
devotion to life itself!
