Marcus told himself to do each thing as if it were the last thing he would do, not in fear, but in full attention. Most of our stress lives in two places that are not here: a past we replay and a future we rehearse. The present is usually manageable. It is this email, this conversation, this short walk. When you notice your mind has run off to either edge of time, you have not failed. Noticing is the whole skill. You simply gather yourself and come back to the small, real thing your hands are doing. There is a quiet relief in it. The present moment is narrow enough to actually hold.

Inspired by the old idea of present moment. Written by Ugo Charles.