“There is nothing else than now. There is neither yesterday, certainly, nor is there any tomorrow. How old must you be before you know that?” Ernest Hemingway’s words cut through the noise of our daily lives, yet often, we fail to truly grasp their profound truth. Andrew Brodsky’s journey is a testament to how easy it is to lose ourselves in the chaos of the past and the uncertainty of the future, forgetting the beauty and power of the present moment.
One ordinary Wednesday afternoon, Brodsky found himself stuck in a familiar cycle of distraction and stress. Bent over his laptop in a coffee shop, desperately trying to revise a overdue research report, he couldn’t focus. Every few minutes, he’d check his email, hoping for news about a proposal. When that yielded nothing, he’d mindlessly scroll through Facebook, only to be bombarded with memes that deepened his gloom. By the time he drove home, he was in a foul mood, a cloud of irritation and impatience hanging over him.
His wife, Lisa, saw right through his facade. When he confessed his “blueness,” expecting comfort, she instead challenged him. Her words, “You haven’t been happy since I met you,” stung, but they also planted a seed of doubt. As the days passed, Brodsky couldn’t shake her words from his mind.
During a family trip to northern Idaho, Brodsky thought he’d find solace away from work. But even surrounded by the beauty of nature, the laughter of his children, and the tranquility of the lake, that nagging sense of unease persisted. It was then that he had an epiphany: he was afraid of being present. In the workplace, he was too focused on the future of his career, unable to appreciate the work at hand. On vacation, he couldn’t let go of his work – related worries. He was terrified that if he truly embraced the present, it wouldn’t measure up to his expectations.
But when he finally faced his fear head – on, something remarkable happened. The moment he allowed himself to be fully present, he realized that the present was not empty, but brimming with life. The smells of sunscreen, seaweed, and pine trees; the sounds of gulls, distant trucks, and his children’s laughter – all these ordinary details combined to create a rich tapestry of experience.
Brodsky understood that changing his lifelong habit of dissociating from the present would be a long – term journey. Our brains are wired to seek comfort in familiar patterns, even when those patterns do us more harm than good. To help others on a similar quest, he shared some practical tips:
First, look inward for reinforcement. When stress or anxiety strike, resist the urge to seek external validation. Those constant checks of email or news feeds are just ways of escaping the present moment. True peace and contentment come from within. We have the power to find the resources we need to be present and at ease within ourselves.
Second, control your information stream. Limit your consumption of news and social media. While these platforms can be great for connection, overindulgence can leave you feeling isolated and disconnected. Put away your phone, and be more selective about the information you let into your life.
Third, write down your goals, and then let them go. Goals are important for direction, but they belong in the future. The real joy lies not in achieving the end goal, but in the journey towards it, which happens in the present moment.
Fourth, embrace gratitude. Take a few minutes each day to list five things you’re grateful for. This simple practice can be a powerful antidote to anxiety and a great reminder of the value of the present. Engaging in acts of kindness and volunteering also helps shift the focus from self – centered concerns to the present moment and the well – being of others.
Finally, practice mindfulness. Develop a simple, regular mindfulness routine. Whether it’s meditation, running, or another activity that helps you quiet your mind, find what works for you and make it a habit. The goal is to burn away the noise of the past and future and bring your awareness firmly into the here and now.
Living in the present moment can be scary. It requires us to let go of our attachments to the past and our anxieties about the future. But as Brodsky discovered, it’s also the only way to truly experience the richness of life. It’s an act of bravery, a leap of faith into a world that’s always been there, waiting for us to fully embrace it.
