Be Here! Be Now! I remember seeing this phrase first used in Dan Millman’s “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior,” which I read twice in 1980 when the book was published. This book was a watershed event for my generation, as we saw the emergence of the New Age movement in the 1970s.  Over the years, I have given away many copies, and I continue to recommend it to members of Generation X, the Millennials, and Generation Z.

In “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior,” the words were used by Socrates, his wise old mentor, to remind Dan to be ever mindful of the present moment. At the time, I did not fully understand what Socrates meant by that statement.

Today, we are often reminded to “be present in the moment” or that “we should live in the present moment.” However, no one has ever explained, to my satisfaction, what such phrases really mean.  Everyone takes it for granted that the sentences are self-explanatory.  I disagree.

I want to use this post to add some clarity, I hope, to my preferred version of living in the present moment: Be Here! Be Now!  But, first, I want to add a caveat. No one, no matter how enlightened or wise, can live in the present moment 100 percent of the time. It is impossible.  However, you can “be here and be now,” a large percentage of the time, but especially at critical moments in your day.

Being Here And Being Now

Here are some thoughts for you to consider: Stop often during your day and simply observe what is going on around you.  Ask yourself often during the day, is this the best use of my time at this moment?  Be attentive to your immediate surroundings: the energy in the room, the colors you see, and the sounds you hear.  If you are having a conversation or discussion with another person, give that person the gift of your total attention. Listen with the ears, the mind, and the heart.  Be aware.

These thoughts encompass the here and the now.  Just practice these actions every day until they become second nature to you.

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