It’s confirmed. I’m not, by any stretch, a natural at being “in the moment”. I mean, focus? What’s focus? I have no time for focus. I’m too busy thinking about anything but where I am or what I’m doing.

I knew I could stand some improvement in that area. So, I read a little about how mindfulness and practicing “being in the moment” can enhance focus, relieve stress, boost creativity, and solve world peace. Sounded like psychobabble buzzwords to me. And that might be so. But I now see that both things can be true.

Recently, I got a shot at experiencing actual mindfulness, of being in the moment, totally present and aware, quite by accident. And, well, let’s just say my eyes were opened.

It happened during a 208-mile hike. No really, 208 miles. Not a typo. I walked the Camino Portuguese with my daughter, from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. No lie, it’s a challenge if you’re not a hiking beast like my daughter. I trained for it, and other than whining now and then about the character-building elevation gain (character is highly overrated), I did ok. Mostly.

Typically, we’d hit the trail a little before sunrise to get ahead of other “pilgrims” (the common name for hikers on the Camino) so we could bask in the solitude. At times I took off earlier than her – she walks way faster than me – so she would have time to work out some “piss and vinegar”, as she called it. Most of my vinegar fizzled out after menopause so she’d usually catch up to me within a couple of hours. We’d rendezvous at a café and move on from there.

One such morning in Ponte de Lima – a town so cute it looks Photoshopped – I hit the road an hour ahead of her. And it was just me. Well, just me, the Ponte de Lima bridge (a medieval beauty snatched right out of a romance novel) and my trusty Camino app (yes, of course there’s an app).

Shortly, the bridge was behind me and the trail turned Tolkienesque. Trees arched over a path of grass and mossy stone that followed a burbling stream. It might have been gurgling, but you get the idea.

As the sky began to brighten and the morning mist lifted, I felt the world … still. Not creepy still, or awkward-silence still, but like a holy hush – the kind that makes you want to whisper, just in case something sacred is listening.

Even the soft taps of my walking sticks felt too loud, so I lifted them up and carried them to keep the peace.

It was just birds chittering, my breath, and the soft pad of boots on ancient stone. And then, without realizing it, my mind just… stopped spinning. No running to-do list, no replaying awkward conversations for the umpteenth time, no fretting about what’s next. Just the forest, the light, the sound of my breath. That’s it.

And then – I noticed I had this big, goofy grin on my face.

Oh. So this is what it means to be “in the moment”.

It was magical, spiritual – a brief flash of emptying myself and refilling with simple calm. For a brief span of time, God and nature and I were walking together, unencumbered, and I remembered just how big He really is.

I wanted to bottle it up and serve it on ice every day.

What a lift to not feel burdened by … anything. It’s just you, connecting to the feel of your feet on the earth, breathing in sunrise and cool air, soaking up His Creation in its finest colors. No judgement, no weight, no second thoughts. Just this gift.

How unfortunate that I don’t feel that connection every moment of every day. I guess that’s being human, right? We can be present, but we’re also maddeningly drawn down rabbit holes of chaos and comparison and noise.

Of course, it’s easy to be mindful and in the moment when you’re strolling through a glen in the Shire at sunrise and twittering bluebirds are landing on your shoulder. Way harder when deadlines are looming, there’s gum on your shoe, and your cat, Barfy, left another gift on your best rug.

In our real lives, it takes mindful effort and practice (and chocolatey rewards) to separate the important from the distractions, to allow yourself to be “in the moment”, even for a moment.

But that’s my mission: to practice with fervent intention the art of being mindful and in the moment right here, right now … while I create art … while I fold undies … while I burn the garlic bread (again) ... while I find God’s blessings in all the mundanity.

Wanna join me? A big goofy grin would look great on you.

Let's Muse Together

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2 comments

  • Kathi: July 05, 2025
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    Stacy, thanks so much for your sweet comment. 🙂 We truly appreciate it!

  • Stacy: July 04, 2025
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    Your writing made me feel like I was right there with you. Your words made me feel peaceful and mindful. Thank you.

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