Be where your feet are

“Hey! You’re back. We missed you.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to be back.”

“Where did you go? Someplace exotic I hope…”

“I guess it depends on your definition of ‘exotic.’ If it means working around my house and trying to stay on top of a whole bunch of assignments, then, yes, it was ‘exotic’.”

“Nah, not my definition. You’ve been busy?”

“Oh yes, lots of work coming my way. I was teaching some classes on communication and doing some marketing for a cruise I’ll be speaking on this summer.”

“A cruise you’ll be speaking on this summer? Tough job. Let me get out my tiny violin.”

“I know. But someone has to do it. I took one for the team. Honestly, though, I know I’m fortunate. Even so, the rest of the world doesn’t go on pause. I still have my normal day-to-day tasks and my ongoing clients.”

“Better to have too much work than not enough. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Sure. Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful. It’s more an issue of time management. My mantra has become, ‘Thank you God for all the work. However, would you mind spacing it out a little?’ Something had to give so I put my column on hold for a month while I got caught up.” “You’re caught up then?” “Not really, but I also learned from a time management expert that the biggest difference between people who are effective at time management and those that aren’t is those who understand that there will ALWAYS be something left to do. We’ll each die with unfinished tasks that someone else will have to clean up.”

“That’s uplifting.”

“Well, if you think about it, it kind of is. Once I realize that I’ll never get everything done, I then have to figure out what matters most and focus on those. We each only have a 24hour day but some people get so much more done than others. Why? They prioritize better. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed and curl up in a mental fetal position.”

“So, you’re the ‘stay-motivated-and-on-task’ guy. That’s what you’ve been writing about all these years. What would you tell me if the roles were reversed?”

“Well, first of all — being honest — it’s always easier to tell others what to do than it is to do it yourself. Having said that, I just took a meditation class and I think the biggest lesson I took away from that was, ‘Be where your feet are.’”

“Huh? What the heck does that mean?”

“Have you ever been reading a book or watching TV and you suddenly realize that you have no idea what you just read or what you just watched?”

“Sure, happens all the time. Sometimes even when I’m reading your column.”

“Ouch.”

“No offense meant, just relating to what you were saying. So, what about it?”

“It’s because your mind was not where your body was. You were physically doing one thing while your brain was concentrating on something else.”

“Yeah, so?”

“That means you weren’t effective on either. You don’t remember what you were thinking about nor do you remember what you physically did. Summed up, it was a waste of your life’s energy. As I’m getting older, I’m realizing I don’t have enough life to throw away.”

“No, me neither. So, what have you learned to counteract that?”

“Be where your feet are.”

“Again, with the flowery metaphors? Just tell me what to do please.”

“Several times a day, I have learned to slow myself down and experience exactly what I’m doing without judgment. For example, right now, I’m focusing only on this conversation. I have appointments later but thinking about them while I’m talking to you disrespects them and you.”

“Any tips to do that?” “As silly as it might sound, remember to breathe. Several times a day, I remind myself to take a deep breath and ask myself if I’m present. If I am, it’s another deep breath, and then keep moving forward. If not, I shake myself out and refocus. I’m finding it to be very effective.”

“Does that mean I’ll get more done?”

“I don’t know. But at least you’ll know when you do.”

Scott “Q” Marcus, RScP, is a life coach and Religious Science Practitioner, as well as a professional speaker and the founder of the inspirational Facebook Group, Intentions Affirmations Manifestations. Stay in touch by signing up for his newsletter at www. ThisTimeIMeanIt.com/ signup.