Recently, I’ve been learning about what it looks like to remain fully present in any given situation. As I get closer to the end of my time on the World Race, it’s very easy to get ahead of myself and to start making plans for the future.
I had a moment this week where I looked back on one of our adventure days when I got to play with elephants. I choked up as I thought to myself “I could have been more present. I could have given that baby elephant one last hug before I jumped on that truck.” I was way too ready for the nap that awaited me back at my hotel room.
Seems small, but it’s just another example of me not taking the time to be where I am both physically and mentally. My memories of that day with the elephants are flooded with time spent fumbling with my camera trying to get the perfect shot, attempting to interact with every single animal, and worrying about those around me.
I got so caught up in the day that I didn’t fully live it. And from that moment on, I chose to take in every moment and live it to the fullest – to plant my feet wherever I was and take in my surroundings.
This past weekend, my friends and I climbed up and down a waterfall. We got away for an afternoon and forgot about the busy city that is our home for the month.
These falls are fed by a calcium-rich spring at the top, which allowed us to climb through the rushing water, gripping to the rocks with our bare feet (or Chacos, which are basically an extension of my feet at this point). It was the most fun I’d had since playing with elephants, and I challenged myself to put the camera away at times and just lay on the rocks, letting the cool water pour over me. Because some moments are meant to share while others are meant for my eyes only, to be taken in and held onto tightly as a memory I’ll likely never forget.
God gives us one life, and He fills it with incredible things. If we aren’t staying present, we might just miss them.
I didn’t come on this journey to have a bunch of stories when I come home, but the simple fact is I will have loads to tell. And when I look back on these 11 months, I want to be able to recall how I felt during the hard times, during the adventures, and during the moments where nothing was really happening. Because we might not always see it, but God is constantly moving within us. That small choice you just made will affect your future. But more importantly, it affects your present.
Stay here. Your future can wait.
All my love,
Aubrey
Video from Sticky Falls > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yuPbkdoi7E
