Do you ever realize, as you’re rushing about in the quest to complete the thousand things on your to-do list, that maybe life — the part of life that has meaning — is passing you by?

What did you just miss? What moment of beauty or joy eluded you? What possibilities are now not yours? What could you have learned from being fully immersed in just one thing vs. having your attention scattered like buckshot?

Unfortunately, busyness now is admired in most societies. If you can’t claim the thousand-item to do list, you almost feel like you should apologize for it. Or, at minimum, be embarrassed at how you’re slacking off.

Truly, it does seem sometimes that it’s pretty hard to scale down that list a lot, though I know you can cut it down a bit.

What matters more, though, is choosing to stay present for at least some of the moments in your life. Not even just the big ones like a special event, but the little ones like sitting with a friend, taking note of the blue sky or even something as routine as brushing your teeth. When you get quiet and simply do that one thing, you allow your body to regroup and your mind to calm down. You start to appreciate the little things more. You even gain new insight that you didn’t have before you allowed yourself to be immersed in that one moment of time.

I’m as guilty of it as you are, though I try to catch myself and remember the importance of staying in some moments, at least. I was reminded of this a few days ago as I sat outside brushing my dog. His tangly, wavy, long hair required my attention at the moment. And, in that moment, I stopped to really appreciate caring for him as he deserves, especially since he gives so much sweetness and love and laughs in return. I enjoyed the nice breeze fluttering by. I didn’t ponder the hundred things I needed to do or worry about. I just brushed Freddie. Pure and simple. It made for a very nice respite.

Pick at least one moment every day, and savor it. See what that creates, how that feels. I think you’ll soon realize the gift of those moments and make a habit to slow down to appreciate even more of them.