Be Where Your Feet Are: Breaking the Cycle of Chasing the Next Moment

I have always reflected on the passing of time—how fleeting it all feels. But now, watching my child grow, time feels even more fleeting than ever before.

Like many of us, I’m still baffled that the 1990s aren’t just 10 years ago but will be pushing 35 years ago in 2025. And can we talk about the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic began five years ago? It’s disorienting. So many of us feel bamboozled by where the time has gone.

Even with milestones and meaningful moments marking the years, many of us still fall into the trap of constantly looking ahead—always chasing the next goal before fully experiencing the one we once anticipated. It often sounds like:

I can’t wait to grow up.

I can’t wait for that big trip.

I can’t wait until we’re married.

I can’t wait for the weekend

I can’t wait until he starts crawling… then talking… then walking.

I can’t wait…

But what we’re really saying is:

“I can’t stop thinking about the next thing until the next thing arrives, and once it does, I’m already onto the next.”

And then, inevitably, we find ourselves reminiscing about the past.

Do you see the vicious cycle? We spend so much time straddling the past and the future that we’re never fully where our feet are.

So here’s a gentle reminder: Be where your feet are. The present moment—the one you have access to right now—is the only one guaranteed. Show up for it fully by:

1. Putting Down Your Phone

One of my favorite scenes from The Office is Jim and Pam’s wedding. Every time they wanted to capture a moment, they’d pretend to hold a camera and snap it—no phones, just pure presence. I promise, your memory will serve you better than your camera roll if you allow yourself to fully experience the moment instead of trying to capture it.

2. Grounding Yourself & Writing About It Later

Try the 5-4-3-2-1 method to anchor yourself in the present:

• 5 things you see

• 4 things you can touch

• 3 things you hear

• 2 things you smell

• 1 thing you taste

Take in every micro-detail. Then, challenge yourself to write about it later.

3. Practicing Gratitude in Real-Time

Instead of saving gratitude for a reflection at the end of the day, acknowledge it in the moment:

“I’m grateful for this conversation.”

“This sunlight feels amazing.”

Small, mindful acknowledgments ground you in the present.

4. Letting Go of Judgment

We spend so much time imagining how things should be—before, during, and after they happen. Instead of labeling experiences as good or bad, try to simply observe them as they are. Accept the moment without trying to change it.

Time will always move fast. But if we practice presence, we can at least slow down our experience of it.

So today, wherever you are, take a breath, and “wherever you are, be all there.” -Jim Elliot

Till next time,

Aimee Strange, LPCC 14132

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