Just Stop For A Minute

My six year old nephew is wise beyond his years. About a month and a half ago I was visiting and promised I would play Nintendo Switch with him. We all got caught up talking, time got away from me and I had to leave before playing with him. I asked him to get a piece of paper and a marker and I wrote him out an I.O.U that he expertly negotiated with whispers from his mom. The deal was that the very next time I came over he could cash in his I.O.U. for either play time with me or $20 cash.

A couple weeks ago on Mother’s Day I dropped by to give my sister her gift and he ran up to me, waving his signed contract. I was prepared with $40 in my bag because Auntie’s big boy gets big money. I asked if he wanted to play or did he want the money. Without hesitation he said he wanted me to play Mario Strikers with him. I told him to go set it up and as he scampered off, my sister smiled a knowing smile and went back to cooking.

Sitting in the middle of the floor for an hour, just the two of us, meant more to him than any amount of money. Being present and in the moment was all he wanted. Mindfulness, being present, is what many of us are missing in life. We are so busy and bogged down by hustle culture that we neglect being present with loved ones, let alone in our own lives.

Like just about anything, mindfulness requires practice in order to get good at it. It takes purposeful attention to the here and now, being fully present and in the moment. Money can and will be lost and made a million times over. Don’t get so distracted by making money that you look up one day and realize you have no memories to look back on.

Coach T