Sara Trudge (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
Over the past few years, I have made a conscious effort to be more present and intentionally observe my surroundings. I have noticed that it has made me happier and my memories richer and more important to me later on.
I used to be someone who always needed a distraction. When walking somewhere, I needed to listen to music or a podcast. I would be on my phone to fill the moments of waiting and silence. Now I enjoy walking in silence, listening to the sounds around me, thinking and people-watching.
I would go to concerts and take videos on my phone the whole time, which would take away from the overall experience. I enjoy it so much more when I am present and soak in all the minor details. I can now take note of what the energy in the room was like, if the stranger next to me was enjoying themself and how the lighting changed throughout the set. When I am not so focused on trying to capture everything on video, I have a better time and look back on the memories with more appreciation and details from the night. I still take a few videos at concerts, but my main priority is to be present, soak everything in and enjoy my night. It’s as if I have the curiosity of a child again, and I want to take in every minor detail like I am seeing everything for the first time.
Being present allows small moments to turn into special memories. You start to pay attention to simple things like the sound of birds chirping, children laughing and the way the sky looks. Being present allows something as simple as sitting on your porch in the summer, enjoying the weather, to become something that fully encapsulates the feeling of the moment.
The other day I was on a crowded train and all the seats were taken, so I had to stand. I would usually read on the train ride, but it wouldn’t have been as enjoyable, so I just looked out the window the entire time. My highlight of the morning was seeing a mother walking with her children and watching someone riding a horse. If this were a regular day and I was able to sit on the train, or even if I had decided to scroll on my phone standing there, I wouldn’t have noticed the things that were going on outside of the train. Being present helps me appreciate all moments that become memories, no matter how big or small. It also allows me to see the beauty in the mundane. Every day is special and has beautiful moments in it if you allow yourself to see them.
What has helped me become more present?
Setting aside time to sit with no distractions. Whether that is 10 minutes to go for a walk or washing the dishes without listening to music or watching TV, it can make a difference over time. I had to retrain myself to be present and comfortable without distractions. The goal isn’t to never listen to music or be on your phone, but to intentionally create time to sit with your mind and what is physically around you.
Temporarily stepping away from social media also helped me live my life for me and not worry about posting or wondering what other people were doing. I continued to take pictures and videos, but I no longer let it overtake the moment and be my main priority. When I was worried about capturing moments for social media, I would remember the moment from the videos or pictures. I found myself asking if I would have any memory of these moments if there were no video of them.
Finally, taking note of the minor details helped me become present. I realized that there are random things I never paid attention to that could brighten my day. I love seeing birds run, watching the clouds move and people-watching. Once I realized this, I became excited to discover what other things I love, and it helped me look forward to being present. I no longer wanted to be distracted when outside, because I could miss something that would make me smile. It is easy to let the world and life get you down, but seeing beauty in the simple things that we rarely consider or pay attention to can bring happiness into your day.
Overall, being present has allowed me to notice and remember minor details, and this provides richer memories that hold greater value. I love that I now have memories with details like how many eagles I saw on a four-hour road trip and strangers I encountered, all because I allowed myself to be fully present.
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