A single moment.

I posted about this in another thread, but I'm going to post it here again. The reason being is that a single moment in life can change so much. I'm currently involved in a DBT group and we learn how to stay in the moment as most of us have problems getting stuck. Well one moment has ended up bringing so much to me and I would have never thought for a minute...

Anyway, my girfriend, her daughter and I were sitting on a bench at the Taste of Chicago back in June. There were thousands of people at this event. Anyway there is this butterfly flying around the crowd. For some reason I had spotted him and was actually watching him. Well he flies around the crowd for awhile and comes to rest on my knee. He settles down and stretches his wings and sit and watches the people until both my gf and her daughter reach for cameras to get a picture. This little creature was a wonder. He was orange and black and had a pattern on him I had never seen the likes of. Unique at the very least.

Now that was a short moment in my life. I will remember it forever and lately I use it to remind me that a moment like that can happen at any time and often when we least expect it and sometimes when we really need it.

It's got me trying harder to let a moment be itself without laying too much meaning on it. Everything passes. It's reminding myself what I can be missing when I am stuck and allowing myself to move towards that next moment.

All this started with a butterfly...

Hi A1,

My day goes much better when I can manage to stay in the moment. I have a hard time w/ADHD so it can be tough sometimes. Like right now. I'm trying to download a form & since our printer doesn't work I'm attempting to e-mail it (already completed) to a friend who does have a printer - with no success. It really pissed me off. I messed w/it for so long before realizing I just need to ask for help or find another computer w/internet access & a printer that does work!

Well I guess I could've wasted even more time. It has been over a decade since I've been in an academic setting. I'm enrolling in a condensed program @ a local college here in Utah & I feel out of touch & a little awkward being 43 & already having an AA & a BA. When it comes to internet documents & e-mailing them I don't know what the hell I'm doing! I'm very impatient & that doesn't help for being in the moment.

SO I'm on moodtracker waiting til my friend can help me out - whenever that will be!
More PATIENCE, deep breathing (like newborn babies do!) & moving on to the next best thing to do @ the given moment is my ongoing mission in life right now. I get stuck quite often & I rebel by doing 'unproductive' hedonistic things usually. Giving up on my agenda for the day & that only prolongs matters.

Last evening there was a huge lightning storm, I'm from Berkeley which is mostly sea level on SF Bay so I've heard a lot of thunder but haven't seen so many lightning bolts. Man, they were huge & intricate as well. Anyway, there were patches of sun between the rolling thunderheads. One such patch lit up the big tree in my backyard & created a full rainbow over it w/a completely dark sky in the background. Just then a giant three pronged lightning bolt that I swear seemed to last for 2seconds came down through the rainbow. It was an awesome sight to behold; I wish I could've taken a picture.

I will remember that forever - like the butterfly w/your family.

lyman

I hope more people visit this site and share stories like these. I did have a weird experience today. I've had a rough year: divorce, unemployment, bankruptcy, enough to weigh anyone down, let alone anyone with a depression diagnosis already! Anyway, I just moved in with a friend, and he will have me sit outside with him almost daily. He notices things that I guess I've just taken for granted. Funny thing is, we have this cute, little 3-legged bunny that pretty much stays in our yard. Now, I know many people would think "poor thing" but my friend said, "look at that cute little guy, he just runs around here like 'nothing's going to stop me, not even losing my leg.' " It really gave me a new respect for this bunny. So this morning I woke up, not feeling like doing much of anything (what's new), when I remembered I had an interview scheduled. I really thought of rescheduling, giving in to my depression and just going back to bed. Literally, I had my phone in my hand, and here comes our 3-legged friend right up to the back window, stared at me for a while, then took off across the yard. At that moment, I thought, no way can I give up a chance for a job when this little guy probably literally fought for his life. To end the story, I went on the interview and it went GREAT! I don't know about the job yet, but I sure felt a lot better about myself after! Can't wait to sit outside and thank my little inspiration tonight!

Thanks for helping me to remember you can always find miracles in the little things!

Christina

All I can say is YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good job and thank you for sharing.

No, ArdentOne I think you are the one I should be thanking! Everytime I see a butterfly, it reminds me of your inspiration. And on the funny side, I've been seeing them a lot more lately. So either you're sending them my way, or you've just given me a pair of prettier glasses to look through. Either way, thanks bud!!