Focus on Now: Reclaim Your Joy in the Present Moment

I was recently enjoying tea and conversation with a couple of friends. One shared how she and her adult daughter live thousands of miles apart but plan four-day adventures to be together several times a year. She mentioned that on day three, she usually experiences deep sadness and anxiety, knowing their time is almost up.

But on their most recent trip, something shifted. She felt the sadness creeping in—but chose to let it go. Instead of succumbing to the familiar ache of goodbye, she grounded herself in the joy of the moment. She gave herself permission to fully enjoy all four days, trusting she could hold space for her grief later.

It struck me as both timely and profound.

The Past

Lately, I’ve been struggling to stay present. I’ve spent too much time replaying the past few years—so much challenge, so much loss. And right now, much of my attention is consumed by my husband’s daily radiation treatments, the long drive, the traffic, and the construction. I’m burned out at work, weighed down by cumulative stress. I even got written up for the first time in my life—53 years without so much as a reprimand, and then suddenly, a verbal and written warning after one moment of frustration and overwhelm.

The Future

And then there’s the future.
Will I find joy in my work again?
Will I make money from my writing?
Will my husband heal, regain his strength, and his mobility?

But that simple story over tea reminded me of something powerful:
I have a choice.

The Present: Focus on NOW

I can dwell in the past or spiral into the future. Or—I can choose to come back to the present.
To now.
To joy.
To love.
To gratitude.
To kindness.

Minute by minute, day by day, I am learning to return to the present and focus on now.
To the smile on my husband’s face every time he sees me.
To the strength in my body during yoga or a bike ride.
To the sanctuary we’ve created in our home.
To the freedom and flexibility we’ve gained in our finances.
To the friends who give long, warm hugs and say “I love you” with ease.

Even food became a teacher recently.
During a session, my therapist asked me, What food brings you joy?
And I didn’t know.

Sure, there are foods that bring comfort—coffee, pizza, ice cream, tequila—but joy?
That night, I slept on the question. In the morning, the answer was clear:
Mangos.
Bananas.
Sweet, bright, nourishing. And yet, I rarely allow myself the simple pleasure of them.

The truth is, we can find joy in so many small things when we’re present and mindful.
Many traditions and cultures pause before a meal, focus on now, and offer gratitude for nourishment. Food, like everything, holds energy. Why not honor it?

Why not honor ourselves in the same way?

Joy doesn’t require perfect circumstances. It only asks that we show up—fully, vulnerably, gratefully—in the present moment. Again and again.

For me, that means treating myself to a ripe mango —and letting each juicy slice be my own reminder to savor the sweetness of now.

What simple pleasure will you choose to savor today? Where in your life can you focus on now? I’m listening and would love to hear from you.

 

©2025 Lori Ann King