Welcome to “How to Live in the Moment“.

Have you ever caught yourself in a moment and realized, “Dang, this is pretty special… I miss it already.”? Life’s moments are not created equally; there are ups and downs, and we can’t have one without the other. We may not want to remember those down moments, but for the times that we find ourselves on top of an actual mountain or storming your team’s football field after winning the rivalry game, being able to bottle up the moment is a priceless art.

How do I remember a moment when I’m in the moment and realize it’s a moment I want to remember?

Sure, you can always take a picture, but taking out your phone isn’t always the vibe, and going through your camera roll to routinely reflect on the past can often lead to a skewed memory with gaps where photos weren’t taken. However, I’m a huge picture-taking advocate, so take that with a grain of salt. Traveling can lead you to a flood of new and cool moments, and a mental memory book is my favorite place for the special ones.

How to Hold on to a Moment

1 Breathe

Take a deep breath and let the air around you fill up your lungs. Maybe take two or three.

2 Smell

Take in two scents around you. Maybe it’s the nearby pizza shop and the salty ocean caught in the breeze or your laundry detergent and the smell of your hot cup of coffee.

3 Feel

What do you feel that can ground you in the moment? Are you sitting on grass? Is your shirt giving you a little hug? Is the warm sun beating on your skin?

4 Listen

What do you hear? Are there birds? Sounds of waves? A breeze rustling through the trees? A group of kids bantering? Traffic moving by?

5 Look

Now, what do you see? Find what is hidden from all but the curious eye. This moment is a painting, and what you see are the colors for the last few brushmarks.

This really works. Try it with where you are now, then when you’re on top of your next mountain.

Pictured: Me and my best friend at the summit of Half Dome.