Better a Day Early than a Day Late

Another Italy post follows:

I arrived with plenty of extra time for my check-in at the airport- 24 hours early! It's a funny thing because I had been thinking about how easy it to get wrapped up in the future. I used to be a slave to the past. I had a drum to beat about betrayal, the injustice of my life and the pain of loss which was recounted with a sense of irony and (I admit it) pleasure. I was a SURVIVOR, damn it! (I knew I had arrived to a lighter and healthier place when I met my partner and didn't care a bit to explain my sad ole past to him. It was so last year!)

The next frontier: being in the present. We've all heard these and other gems "Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present." "No time like the present!" "(K)now now." And how many movies have extolled the virtues of being in the now? Seize the day! No day like today! (Bonus if you remember which ones!) Virtually every sacred path, all the wise ones and Masters have spoken of the resulting peace and harmony that comes from being in the NOW.

But knowing and being is a whole different box of crackers.

It came to my attention when I realized that for the last week of my Italy trip I was ready to come home. In fact I spent a lot time thinking about what I would do and how I would start acupuncture and what routes to walk with my baby. I even planned a dinner party! Then I thought, WHOA, cowgirl! You are in Italy! Enjoy the moment! I tend to do stuff like this. I think everyone does. I fantasize about the next trip while on vacation, struggle to not create a to do list in the final moments of relaxation pose in yoga, and daydream about what I will do when my little one goes to school. I observe that this isn't very useful or productive at all. I am missing incredible stuff happening right in front of me. Even if nothing especially magnificent appears to be happening, there is a profound sense of serenity that comes from being in the now and just breathing in and out. And how magnificent is that?

Which brings me back to my extreme act of punctuality today. (Let's just call it that, shall we?) I was gifted a whole day! With nothing to do! All bags had been packed, ciao-ciaos and kiss-kisses exchanged, and the whole day was waiting to be filled. (Did I mention I got to the airport at 6 a.m. for check-in?) The possibilities were endless. I could take my daughter to the kiddie amusement park. We could go to the beach again. A nap! Seafood! The market? Anything is possible and all is utterly delightful.

We might not do anything. In fact, as I write this, it's raining. Aside from a stroll to the supermarket to buy some clean underwear, I probably won't do too much at all. A chocolate and hazelnut gelato, a glass of white wine, and a game of roll the ball with my baby... And that is perfect!