The Article Club – April 9, 2010
April 9, 2010 by Marci
So, did you read this week’s article? If not, go do it quick and come right back. I’ll be waiting!!
This week’s article was 10 Tips to Start Living in the Present by Joshua Becker at Becoming Minimalist. I love that blog! I get so much inspiration from their journey into minimalism. It’s amazing to see how much insight they have gained from getting rid of the stuff in their lives! For one, I would have never thought that my clutter would be holding me in the past and not letting me enjoy the present. That brings us to our discussion for today.
I will serve as a discussion starter and moderator for the Article Club. I say that, but I’m sure I’ll get my two cents in the mix, too! So, here are some questions to get you going. Answer them in the comments or pose your own questions or offer different insights than I might mention.
Do you have trouble living in the moment?
Do you agree with the author that “the only important moment is the present moment”?
What new insight did you gain from this article?
Do you agree with the notion that “stuff” can hold you back in your past?
One of the tips in the article is to dream about the future, but work hard today. That is a very fine line to walk. Any suggestions on how to achieve that?
What tip spoke to you the most?
What tip are you going to implement in your life?
What tip do you think is useless?
Alright, the floor is yours. Discuss away!!
Comments (9)
I liked the tip about starting your day with a smile. I think this is especially important for parents. Often times we set the tone for our kids moods so why not do our best to inject each day with a little happiness right from the beginning!
Courtney- We do set the moods for our family, don’t we. On those crabby mornings, I can just see the disappointment on my kids faces! That’s just not right.
I think that living in the moment is a great reminder, especially when we’re with our children. But the past and the future are still very important…to constantly be learning from our past and planning for the future. They should not be disregarded completely. It seems that the author’s point was to not let the past or the future overshadow the present moment and steal your joy. Great article!
Heather- Good point. Learning from our past and planning for the future are important. I can, also, see where people get so bogged down in either and miss what’s happening right now.
I love this: soak in as much of today as you possibly can.
That’s what I’m trying to do, every day.
I love this website, and this new series you’re doing!
Awww, Meredith. You are too sweet!
I’m thinking of finding a quote like that to remind me to stop and smell the roses, so to speak, and hanging it up somewhere where I will see it all day long. I need that reminder!
[...] tools, links and more to help you on your journey. A new feature for Overcoming Busy is the Article Club that was just launched this past week. Think of it as a book club for those of us who don’t [...]
First of all, I absolutely love this Article Club idea! You’re a genius, and I’ll definitely be an active participant. : )
I was reminded of a particular time when my daughter and I were out and about, running errands. At one stop, we had just gotten out of the car when she spotted a snail s-l-o-w-l-y inching its way along. Nothing could be more interesting to a 3 year old. At first, I was urging my daughter to keep going, but I eventually just let myself Be In The Moment. It was just the two of us in a parking lot, watching a snail (of all things!) and it was beautiful.
I do have trouble being in the moment, but it’s something I’m working on.
Great article choice, Marci. I enjoyed it.
Good idea to do an Article Club! It’s certainly less committment than a Book Club. I started a Book Club blog about a year and a half ago, and with all the members busy schedules, sometimes it’s a struggle to get good participation.
This article presents some good ideals to strive for, but honestly, these kinds of lofty-ideal-articles (even when they’re worthy, noble ideals) cause me to tune out. I personally prefer more practical advice, dispensed in small, manageable doses.
To a few of your questions:
I agree – to an extent – that the most important moment is now. It’s true that you can’t live in the past or in the future, only in the present. But, in our efforts to live each moment to the fullest, I think it’s reasonable to expect that each moment will not be perfect. I think a person – and their conscience – will do better to look at a bigger picture. For example, when I was pregnant and having trouble eating anything much less eating healthily, I found this advice: “Work for a balanced week, not a balanced day.” I liked that, and I think that’s good advice for life, too.
The most useful tip was to remember to smile. It’s a simple thing to do that doesn’t require a lot of effort on a person’s part. I think that’s an especially important tip for a mom with small kids.