Being in the now

mating damsel flies

dragonfly with sun bubble

You are not "in the now"--

You are the now.

That is your essential identity-- the only thing that never changes.

Life is always now. Now is consciousness.

And consciousness is who you are. That's the equation.

Eckhart Tolle

Probably living in the now is one of the more complex of human concepts even as it seems it should be obvious. We so often live in the past, in the future and the now is something to get through.

The problem is when we don't live in the 'now', we miss our only opportunity to experience anything. Whether we are enjoying something that happened or anticipating something we want-- or don't want, it's easy to lose track of what we actually have.

 dragonfly possibly recently emerged from the stream where they live most of their lives with a few glorious months flitting around with that beautiful color and wings

As I go through the photos looking for images I can use either for trailers, covers, Pinterest, or the blogs, I am easily carried back to moments when each photo was taken. Sometimes that's enjoyable. Sometimes it's depressing. I don't suppose it hurts once in awhile to do that as part of our 'now' but it can get tricky if we put too much of our value into what we accomplished or did not.

As a painter, sculptor, photographer, and writer, I've learned that all I really care about is what I am working on right at the moment. All the past photos are nice. Glad someone liked that last painting, but it's the one now that I struggle with and see as the thing of most value. I suppose that is because the creating of it is the now and it's not the product at all-- even though there is a product involved.

Last year we got some of the best photos we have ever had of a praying mantis in our garden. Most likely it happened because of disturbing the wood storage area with new fencing (keeping in the cats). Whatever the reason, she (big bottom says it's a female and possibly ready to lay eggs) posed in a fantastic way. Many insects run from us but praying mantises do not in my experience anyway. They are not only the now but in their own power.

I literally cannot tell you how many years I wanted praying mantis photos as once one landed in my hair when we were at a renaissance faire. I was delighted, able to put it in a safe spot. Since then I have looked for them but this time, without wanting it, there it was. I think such small moments are the main benefit of living in the now.