These are the minutes that sit on the edge of one activity, looking into the horizons of the next.
They are minutes we have very little control over physically, but are some of the most influential mentally.
Many of mine are spent rocking my little girl to sleep, or stirring soup.
Usually fringe minutes are wasted by trying to be two places at once. We do one activity while our minds skip ahead to what we are anxious to get to next. This makes us present in neither moment for when we get to the next, our minds skip forward again…. and so we go through our days.
It’s a crummy habit, for life can only be lived in the moment we are in.
Today I experimented with some of my fringe minutes. I made myself think of nothing else but what I was doing. I shut out the thoughts of the next thing and gave myself permission to simply BE in the moment I was in, and enjoy it.
An amazing thing happened. Time slowed, I am sure of it, and I felt fully present, un-rushed, focused, relaxed, and fulfilled.
It was like spending time with that one amazing person who looks you full in the face as if you are their one and only concern in life. (We all love those people!)
I found life to be vibrantly alive in the fringe minutes. Almost electric in its refreshment.
I learned two valuable lessons today:
- My days activities do not have to dictate my feelings or my thoughts. I have control over my thoughts and feelings during every single minute of my day!
- Fringe minutes are some of the most valuable (and probably least used) sources of refreshment!
I agree. I’m always thinking ahead to something I need to do next. Seems to creep in especially when my kids have asked me to do something with them. I’ve also been making an effort to be present in those moments.
Yes, yes, yes John! I hear you and understand! Being present is I think one of the best gifts we can give our children!
I love this!!! Now I am going to give it a try.
oh my yes Char! You surely understand the tension that comes with wearing a lot of hats, and how if we aren’t careful, one hat steals the attention from the moment we are in!
Great reminder, hon! And the crazy thing is, it snowballs. The more scattered and absentminded I am, the worse it gets! Ack!!!
It does snowball, you are right! eeek!
The little things add up to make the biggest impact. You are so wise.
They really do Jody! It is so easy to forget this in the business of day to day!
In those moments, what pops in my head I pray about…Not always, but I find it to be a place for me to serve others, through prayer.
I am always so grateful for others prayers and how powerful they are. It’s a simple act, but life changing.
Love this reminder Jenny! And your generous heart for serving and helping others! Thankful for you sis!