“Let everything happen to you:
beauty and terror.
Just keep going.
No feeling lasts forever.”
[Rainer Maria Rilke]
I experience emotions very intensely and often in a roller-coaster pattern. And often I can still get overwhelmed by them. But I have learned to be with them in the moment, to just be in the moment.
I’ve often experienced very intense grief, sadness, loneliness, pain, even very recently, almost too heavy to bear. But I am learning to sit with it, to weather the storms of difficult feelings.
Tuesday (two days ago) was rough. So was last Sunday. But the rest of this week is going well. I’m getting plenty of joy from many sources: from the gorgeous sunny weather; from my runs; from the contact and interactions with my friends and colleagues and students and mentees; from my scientific work; from the live arrival of my pet snake from California; from casting my first Coloradan vote. Basically, from being in the moment in each moment. To just run when I’m out running. To just do science when I’m doing my scientific work. To just lecture or mentor when I’m explaining physics or maths to my students/mentees. To just climb when I’m climbing.
I know I’m saying nothing new. I know this is what all sages of all times and cultures have always said: “be present, be in the moment, and you will find peace”.
I’m still very far from profound “peace” but being in the moment, learning to do things one step at a time, focusing on what I’m doing in the moment to do my best while letting go of what is beyond my control — this approach or mindset is helping me both to get through the rough spots more easily and also to enjoy the good feelings much more fully/deeply.
Tuesday was tough. Sunday was rough. But Monday was great, yesterday was wonderful, today is good.
I’m here and now. This is here and now. And for now, there is joy. This moment is full of joy for me: so with gratitude I will take it and feel it, and make the best of my day with it.
The Little Prince and the Fox 