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Remember this challenge? Hard to believe a year has gone by, huh?

I must say I have really grown to love this simple little album that sits on the shelf above my computer. At the time I made it, it seemed kind of mundane…of course these are the places I went regularly. So what? Doesn’t everyone go to the bank, and to Target, and to pick their kids up from school?

Well guess what? Changes in the economy caused my bank to be taken over by a different one. My youngest started kindergarten, so the preschool will never again be part of my taxi mom route. And Target…well, okay. Some things never change.

Here is what this challenge solidified for me: living in the present moment doesn’t mean I can’t think back to yesterday, or ahead to tomorrow, next week, or next year. It means I am conscious of what is happening NOW, in the context of yesterday, tomorrow, next week, or next year.

It means that while I am rolling my eyes at my kindergartner throwing yet another box of character Band-Aids in the Target cart this week, I am realizing that this obsession of hers will pass. She will probably not be covered in Hello Kitty Band-Aids at Prom. And I am also making a connection about the fact that her sister HATED wearing Band-Aids at this age, mentally cataloging that difference.

It means that even though the afternoon kindergarten schedule is mega-inconvenient, it is a gift to have my little sidekick with me every morning. It means recognizing how fleeting a school year (or a childhood) is in the whole scheme of things. It means embracing the disruption of my morning routine to enjoy this time with her. She will be in school all day soon enough. Or hello...she will be living at college soon enough. Having kids at both ends of the age spectrum gives me a huge sense of perspective.

Living in the present moment means being an active participant in what’s going on around me…resisting the urge to pick up the iPhone every time there is a lull (I promise I’m working on that one!), making eye contact with salespeople, taking a minute to make small talk with the playground supervisor instead of doing a drop & dash. It means connecting rather than barreling through the day like a human checkmark on a life-sized to do list.

Here is the quickie, photoless page I made to document what a difference a year makes.

 

But enough about me. Did you participate in the challenge last year? Head over to the special Flickr group Stacy has set up, and share your experiences by uploading a layout and/or participating on the discussion board.

If you didn’t participate last year and wish you had, there’s no time like the present!

Comments

[Account Deleted]

I LOVE reading your posts.
I especially love this line: "like a human checkmark on a life-sized to do list."

nice.

[Jana D]

I love your layout. I think I will scraplift you. This is right up my alley.

[Jennifer McK]

" ... connecting rather than barreling through the day like a human checkmark on a life-sized to do list." LOVE that! I just pasted that line into a Word document in 28 pt font, printed it out, and hung it on the wall over my desk.

Thank you for those words.

[Erin Bassett]

Time is fleeting! Such a great reminder for me to slow down & concentrate more on relationships and connections then on to-do's. -Thanks!