Matt Sheeley
What does it mean to be present, to truly experience what is happening in the moment? Too often, I find myself somewhere other than where I am: pondering an embarrassing event from years ago, worrying about the future, glazing over in the harsh, cold light of my phone screen. Eventually, I’m pulled back to reality, without realizing how much time has passed.
It is common, even understandable, to want to escape. When we are sad or upset, we seek out a distraction, like streaming our favorite show. Even in times of great joy, our frequent first thought is to document an event rather than take it in. The problem comes when we don’t allow ourselves to fully feel. Whether a feeling is positive or not, we are loath to embrace it and let it fill us up. Boredom and patience are things of the past; being in the moment is becoming a lost art.
I have found nature to be a wonderful tonic to instant gratification and over-stimulation. When you enter the woods, you immediately enter "forest time," slower and deeper than what we experience every day. The longer you stay among the trees the more you immerse yourself in their wisdom. The fast-paced world seems to melt away.
Be still. Try to take in every detail; you will soon find yourself overwhelmed by all that is occurring. Acknowledge as much as you can: the subtle swaying of a young tree, the drone of a distant highway, the solidity of your feet on the earth, the sense of your body in space.
Don’t try to get something out of it. You are not here to take anything away. The world does not exist for your pleasures and desires. Expect nothing. Come simply to observe. See how each day, each moment, is different from the one that came before it. How mind-bending that this is happening every day, in all places of the world! How beautiful that you are here to witness it!
We are often told that life is a balance, that you can’t have good without bad nor light without dark. The next time you find yourself out of balance, indulge in being present. Spend an extra minute looking at the sunrise before work. Allow your dog to stop and sniff the mailbox; for him, this is the best part of a walk. Savor your first taste of morning coffee. Take a moment to ground yourself in one of the few remaining wild places. Don’t lose yourself to the din.
Matt Sheeley is a longtime member of the North Star Chapter. He is a poet and essayist, based in St. Paul.