Can We Love Now?

Dear Friends,

I was in a group recently, and one of the members, a man about 80 years old, said, "I am not sure how long I have to live, but from now on, my life focus is LOVE."

I had a few responses to his statement. 

First I thought, “That is sweet. When I get to be 80, maybe I will focus on that.” 

Then I thought, "Hold it, I may not even make to 80! What if I made that my focus now?"

And then, "What would that look like? I mean, would I get anything done?"

TIME

 In Carlo Castaneda’s book, “Journey to Ixtlan,” the shaman says to Don Juan:

“There is one simple wrong with you – you think you have plenty of time ... If you don’t think your life is going to last forever, what are you waiting for? Why the hesitation to change?”

I am 56 now, and those 56 years have gone by, well, pretty fast. It seems like yesterday I was 40, and the day before I was 30 … and here I am, and here we all are.

The Buddha said, “nothing in this world can be long enjoyed.” Everything changes and passes, but it can be enjoyed now.

I have always appreciated the phrase:

“You do not have to be mindful all the time, just mindful now, and now. And you do not need to be loving all the time, just loving now, and now.… “

It all happens now.

I’m still not exactly sure what it would involve to make love a focus for the rest of my life, but I can try it for a day, and you are welcome to join me, and inquire throughout the day, “Can I love now?”

Maybe we can in moments, and maybe we cannot in other moments, but at least it becomes more central in our lives. Today the average American spends about 2 1/2 hours on social media. What would the world look like if people took 10 minutes out of that time each day and focused on love?

It would be a different world. It has to to start somewhere. And it all starts now.

May your day today offer you many reminders of what actually matters, and what it means to love. We are all learning. I certainly am.

We are in NYC this Thursday for “The Invitation of Our Time: Mindfulness, AI, snd The Future of Life.” See some of you there in person and online. Virtual tickets are here.

Blessings.

SOREN