I saw an interview with Brad Pitt, talking about how driving the cars in F1 is something that keeps you very present, in the moment, and that he likes that. That's not surprising since, obviously, a mistake might kill you destroy a car that costs many millions of dollars. I suddenly realized what "being present" really means, in a way that I didn't really understand before.
People often talk about presence as the thing that keeps you grounded, in the moment. The idea is that if you can enjoy the very moment that you're in, you'll likely be happier and more content, more of the time. The opposite of presence is getting your head stuck on the future, and maybe the past, and that's a source of anxiety. The present is the only thing that you can influence with immediate results. Since a lot of anxiety is rooted in a future that you may or may not be able to influence, this further push toward the now gives you a sense of control. I see all of this now.
A part of me has often felt that the gurus preaching presence were in some ways advocating neglect toward your future, or reconciling your past. I don't really think that anymore. It isn't a binary choice. Being present doesn't mean that you practice disregard toward the world. It just means that you need to accept that Ferris Bueller's advice about life moving pretty fast is true. John Hughes was a clever filmmaker.
It's easiest for me to think about this in the context of my own life. One way that I often feel present is when playing certain games. I've written about how relaxed I am playing Against the Storm. When I sit down for that, I know that I'm going to be tuned in and hyperfocused for an hour or two. It's almost jarring when I stop. Similarly, when I'm on a cruise, everything around me feels vivid and tactile, I guess because all of the things I would normally worry about in the moment are taken care of for me. Are these examples of escapism? Maybe, but that word implies that you're fleeing something, and that it's bad to do so. You will ultimately have to return to stuff. It doesn't make sense that you should have to make that future stuff your constant concern. You have a finite amount of future, and we're all hurtling toward the end of it. When the moment passes, it's gone. We're running out of moments.
This is one of those little things about maturing that I like. It's earned wisdom. There's a lot of that to gain, especially when you're in a stage of life where it feels like responsibility is slowly crushing you. See a good therapist, y'all. It helps.
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