The good we can do now

The Woodstock Village Green is lighted with the traditional luminaries for Wassail Weekend. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When life is fast-paced and ever-changing, we often move past the current moment, not thinking much of it. Oftentimes, thought drifts to the past or the future, causing us to move quickly toward the next step in our day. With that approach, we might miss valuable opportunities to reflect on the meaning of what we’re doing — in other words, opportunities to let quiet, reflective moments guide us. 

With much reflection over the past nine months, I’ve gained a new appreciation for those opportunities, which I didn’t pay enough attention to previously in my career. There’s no harm in stopping and thinking about what’s driving us from moment to moment. Indeed, doing so might open the door to ways we can use those present moments to more greatly benefit ourselves and others. Who knows, that could lead to more ways to help family, friends or neighbors, or spark that one bright idea to advance an important project, or to start a new endeavor we hadn’t thought about. 

Sometimes these more meaningful moments are planned parts of the day, or they just happen. But, I’ve found it’s important to allow them some space within our minds. Rather than drifting away from the “now”, we can get more comfortable with it and let current moments take root and propel inspiring thoughts. It’s like having a painter’s palette, with a full range of colors, or moments, and we decide what to create with them. We each have the opportunity to make beautiful things out of the present moment, and with that comes the chance to embrace the good we can do, right now.

— Gareth Henderson