One Day

Gladly accept the gifts of the present hour. – Horace

I was searching through my closet and found some pictures of myself that are about ten years old.  I immediately flashed back to that time. The last ten years have flown by so fast.  My life was a different reality then and at that time my body, mind, and soul could not grasp my present reality.  I have changed in body and mind.  Looking at myself ten years ago I realize I did not appreciate the gift of my youth in that hour of time.
With each passing decade I believe we all look back and wish we had appreciated the movement of our bodies, the sharpness of our minds, and the energy of our younger years.  A decade ago I was in my mid forties, which I consider to be the best time of life.   The maturity of my being began to set in, dashed with wisdom and experience, without the physical evidence of aging.  But I did not appreciate the gifts of my forties until I reached my fifties.
I was discussing with a friend of mine today about how we all get caught up in being anxious about the future and lose the wonder of the present moment, only to look back and wish we had let life flow accepting and detaching from the outcome.  This is one of the valuable lessons of yoga - to simply detach from the outcome and let life flow.
Attachment in yoga can be found in the memory. Caught in the memory of the past we are hindered from moving forward. Regrets, fears, losses, sadness, and disappointment can prevent us from enjoying the moment. Our search to understand the ultimate reality gets lost in our perception of life as we experience through our senses; what we see, what we hear, what we feel, what we taste, what we smell, and what we intuit. For example; if a person perceives his life to be miserable over time he will create a life of misery and if a person perceives his life to be happy over time he will live a happy life.  For most of us we flip back and forth between the pleasures of life and the pain of life. The only way to escape from this continual movement is to let go of our perceptions and emotional attachments.  Yoga teaches us to detach from our heavy emotionality which impair our judgment. This way of life allows us to live a more balanced and centered life.  Our decisions are wiser than they would be if we make them from a place of emotionality.
Desirable objects attract us. Being youthful and full of energy brings us pleasure.  However although thoughts of being young and beautiful bring us pleasure, we also experience apprehension and fear that we shall lose it.  It is best to detach and enjoy the moment for it will never return again. 
My advise to you; remember that in ten years from now you will not look as good, have as much energy, or have this place in time. So enjoy the present hour and honor yourself now.  Accept your present gifts and make the most of the time you have at hand. Embrace yourself and enjoy, the hour is waning and the gift on life in NOW!

Doctor Lynn
www.doctorlynn.com