Friday, April 15, 2011

M is for Making the Most of the Moment

We have a limited amount of time left in Berlin. We will be moving this summer, a big, inter-continental move. It's a stressful thing, moving. Uprooting the family, removing ourselves from our home, our friends, and the lives we have made here.

It's exciting to look forward and bittersweet to look back. But what I'm trying hardest to do right now is live in the moment.


Of all the places I have lived and the many seasons I've been through (including autumn in New England), spring in Berlin tops them all. Everything is in bloom, a procession of color that started a couple of weeks ago. First the purple of the early-spring crocuses, followed quickly by the yellow of the forsythia and holly grape. And then come the pink cherry blossoms, purple lilacs and the pink and purple azaleas. The air is, quite literally, perfumed with the scent of flowers for six to eight weeks.


I am soaking up every moment of it, reveling in every breath of sweet air (when the wind doesn't blow the scent of manure from the neighboring farms), because where we're going, it won't be like this.


How do you live in the moment?

12 comments:

  1. Relocating is indeed stressful. I hope you'll find something in the new place to make up for what you'll be missing from Berlin.

    I have all the opportunity to 'be in the moment' where I live.

    Grandpa
    Life on The Farm

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  2. Grandpa: I think your location sounds ideal for living in the moment! Thanks for the well wishes. :)

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  3. Wow - it sounds lovely. It's important to live in the moment -- you never know what's ahead. It seems to me like you'll find things about your new place you enjoy too, since you have such a positive attitude.

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  4. After 28 years of living in the same area, my husband and I might be facing a similar move later this year. He is also a scientist and looking for a new contract - is that why you're moving? It's scary but exciting at the same time. Time will tell if moving (possibly overseas) becomes a reality.

    How do I stay in the moment? Once a day, I try to discipline my mind to focus only on the now. To observe what's around me and not think about the future or the past. It's amazing how difficult it is to just remain in the present!

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  5. Like you said, exciting and bittersweet. Good luck with the move!

    I'm not very good at living in the moment. It seems to work best when I don't worry about it and just do something I enjoy, until I'm swept away in the 'flow' of what I'm doing.

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  6. Lovely pics and thought-provoking post.

    I'm envious of your German spring. It's still very cold in my corner of the world. Not a single blossom in sight. But I do try to live in the moment!

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  7. beautiful pictures! no wonder you're finding it hard to leave. :) great m post. Dont worry, youll make more marvelous memories with your move.
    nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  8. Berlin sounds (and looks) beautiful! One day I'd like to visit. Just think of how many beautiful places there are in the world and how lucky you are to be able to see more than one.

    I live in the moment by trying to use every sense. Touch, taste, smell, sound, sight. That's the best way to enjoy what you have right now!

    Great post!

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  9. Do you know where you'll be moving? Spring in Berlin sounds a bit like spring in western North Carolina.

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