Here and Now
Sometimes it’s hard for me to stay present.
Right now, after having done a quick top to bottom inventory of myself, I’m ok. But sometimes I’m not.
Eating eased this.
Drugs and alcohol eased this.
It was always a quick and easy trade off, comfort now, for discomfort later. If I can continually find comfort now, maybe I will never have to experience those perils of humanity, physical and emotional discomfort.
Mostly this is what I’ve been running from my whole life, discomfort. I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday, for a hamburger today. The interest wasn’t much fun at all though.
When I am feeling discomfort today, or even when the idea of a Big Mac suddenly appears in my mind, I will check in with myself. Am I okay?
If not, can I trust that I will be?
If I can stay present through the discomfort, there will be no price to pay later.
Because, everything in my life that produces long-term comfort has required acceptance of a little discomfort in the now.
Ethan Suplee