The More Present We Are, the Richer Life Becomes

One of the greatest gifts my mindfulness practice has given me is a deeper awareness of the present moment.

What I continue to notice is that the more present I am, the richer life becomes.

When I was younger, I was intrigued by meditation and mindfulness, but I was also intimidated by them. My mind felt far too busy. I was stressed, overwhelmed by my thoughts and life.

I had the belief, “I can’t do this.”

I hear this often from others, and I'm always grateful when they share it because I can relate to it so deeply and share my experience.

Mindfulness is simply making a conscious choice to be here, now. To be present with our body, our thoughts, our feelings, and our daily experience—without judgment.

We are the observer.

Every day, every hour, every moment is new.

It will never be exactly the same again.

I find that fascinating.

Last week, I went for a walk through the woods in my neighbourhood. The entrance has always felt magical to me. The trees create a beautiful archway, almost as though they are welcoming you inside. My family calls it The Enchanted Forest.

As I walked, my intention was simply to be present.

The moment I stepped into the forest, I looked up and found myself staring directly into the beautiful eyes of a deer.

Now I was really present.

She didn't run. I quietly stepped back a few paces to give her some space. We stood there together, quite close to one another. Then, she casually lowered her head and continued eating. A few minutes later, she slowly wandered away.

That simple connection was breathtaking. It was the most beautiful way to begin my day.

Later that week, while waiting for a friend at a café, I met a woman whose smile could light up a room. She told me she had just arrived in London after spending seven years as a missionary in Uganda and shared that she was adjusting to this new reality.

We talked for a few minutes. Complete strangers having an open and honest conversation. Before we left, I gave her my business card. I hope our paths cross again.

I walked away feeling such warmth in my heart and compassion for this woman and her story.

I also volunteered at a recovery home for women this week, a place I've been visiting for years.  

Listening to the women share their experiences always moves me. One woman spoke about finally knowing what peace feels like on the inside. Another shared how much she loves simply sitting beneath a tree and watching the sunlight dance on the leaves.

These may sound like small moments, but they are profound. And I left feeling so much gratitude for the privilege of witnessing their sacred journey.

One morning, I woke with a heaviness in my heart. It didn’t feel comfortable.

Instead of trying to push it away or fiugre out ‘the why’, I welcomed that part of myself into my meditation. I simply breathed, then let her come with me wherever I went.

At some point during the day, I noticed the heaviness wasn’t there anymore. It was completely gone. In its place was a quiet sense of calm.

So much happened in just one week.

The taste of fresh watermelon.

Sweat rolling down my forehead on a hot summer day.

Looking into the eyes of a little baby in a stroller who smiled and giggled at me as she played with her toes—and finding myself giggling right back.

Feeling the gentle rise and fall of my breath.

Experiencing the aliveness of simply being here.

This is mindfulness.

Noticing the ordinary moments that are, in truth, extraordinary.

For much of my life, I wasn't really present. My nervous system was very
dysregulated. My mind rarely stopped. The last thing I wanted to do was sit quietly with myself.

Yet something in me was curious.

A seed had been planted.

And that's often how change begins—not with some dramatic transformation, but with one small choice after another.

Mindfulness isn't about floating through life feeling peaceful and blissful all the time.

It's about being willing to meet this moment.

The joy.

The beauty.

The messiness.

The grief.

The uncertainty.

The love.

All of it.

It is about coming home to ourselves.

And when we do, we discover a sense of peace, strength, freedom, and fulfillment that cannot be found anywhere outside of us.

We stop running from ourselves.

We begin to trust ourselves.

We remember that we belong here.

We are all in a school called life, and there are so many lessons to be experienced and learned every day.

The more grounded we become in our bodies and in this present moment, the more available we are to experience the richness, beauty, and wonder that have been here all along. 

May you find moments this week to pause, breathe, and truly be here. The beauty has been here all along, simply waiting to be noticed.

Much peace,

Diane