In a moment or in the moment, what’s it going to be?

In today’s terms “a moment” confirms an associated task is in our work queue and will soon receive attention, blah, blah, blah. How unfortunate.

The notion of a moment being the present is passé. Our multi-tasking, future-oriented culture makes the present an afterthought, if it considered at all.

We all do this. We’re practically forced to. If we don’t, we’re left behind. Write, “Lives in the moment,” as a skill set on a resume? Don’t expect that phone to ring.

Let’s face it, the abandonment of the moment is self-inflicted Time Abuse. It's truly wearing down our somatic and mental health. It is becoming a social disease.

Given this, I’ve been reflecting. When do I truly experience the moment? When are my mind and body at peace? This is critical to learn and teach my daughters.

Yoga classes put me there – but I’ve been neglecting attendance. The Rocky Mountain high country puts me in the moment – but I’m only there about two weeks out of the year. Gardening sometimes gets me there. No doubt; I need more paths to the present. We all do.

I realized thrift shopping puts me in the moment. Really. After paying bills (in this economy) with paper bag in hand to prevent hyperventilation, I often rush to the neighborhood thrift, a few blocks from our home. As of late, these visits are bordering on daily. Odd thing to do, go to a store when you’re worried about money.

I hadn’t really thought about the recent increase in trips to the thrift. Slowly strolling along side the long racks of dresses, skirts, blouses, or shorts with Snake Eyes fosters the moment. I am focused, attuned to one task, the environment, my emotions and body. The store staff is scratching their heads in wonderment as to why I want to be there so often. I understand their questioning my sanity. Occasionally volunteering there has taught me it’s rough work. I lost two toenails because I wore the wrong shoes when volunteering. Really, I did.

My hands might be empty upon leaving the store, but I walk in peace and there is no price tag for that.

Possibilities are exposed and hard to ignore in the thrift store. Walk in with no prediction, Psychic Shopping, and a vital curiosity of what could be? I promise things will happen. Maybe it’s new-agey stuff. Perhaps James Redfield should have included “Shop Thrift” as one of his insights in The Celestine Prophecy.

If I take something home, it rivals the cost of a cup of coffee, not a monthly cell phone bill so no Retail Remorse.

Yesterday I was in need of escape. How completely WRONG is it to write that I needed to escape to the moment?

Not only was my mind set at peace, but I walked out with beautiful quality clothing for my growing daughter that will ensure she enters high school in style and I won’t need to cash out her college savings to pay for it. I also was rewarded with a 1940’s 16mm film projector in mint condition that is worth about at least 10 times what I paid for it (two times my Flinch Point). As a result, we’re preparing to host weekly summer vintage film fests in the backyard for friends to attend. Sure, we could use as laptop projector and watch DVD’s but there’s something about the ticking of the projector that makes for an unforgettable ambiance.

Maybe our vintage film fest will help our community live in the moment at least one night a week. When in search of something life changing, we all begin with baby steps.

Please, help us all. What puts you in the moment?