Value the Moment!

By Savka Wisecup, Montessori Educational Consultant

Our society, country and world have experienced many changes recently.  We have witnessed great tragedies, experienced achievements, faced new challenges and have accepted that our lives will never be the same.  With this continued uncertainty, what is most important?   To value the moment!

“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.” Dalai Lama

Many philosophers, educators and psychologists have discussed the importance of being present.  To be present is to be aware of the beauty surrounding us, to act with kindness and compassion, to fully experience new opportunities, find joy and have time to self- reflect.

Are we aware of being present or are we rushed, distracted and constantly having to do something?

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” Dr. Seuss

In a Montessori classroom, the day is filled with valuable moments. A student discovers how to read, another student learns the names of the continents and an older student shares the accomplishment of writing a story.  For children, being present with each experience builds their confidence, independence, resourcefulness, enthusiasm and compassion. This is the cornerstone of the Montessori Method. “At a given moment it happens that the child becomes deeply interested in a piece of work; we see it in the expression on his face, his intense concentration, the devotion to the exercise.” Maria Montessori    This is a description of a Montessori student, experiencing the moment.

“Each moment, each experience we have offers us the opportunity to either grow or stay the same. The choice is ours.    Life is like a jeweled necklace. There are different sizes and types of jewels that are strung together to make a necklace. Each gem representing different moments of time and the string representing our lifetime.”   www.remedycounseling.com

How do you value the moment?  Many events in our life are grand and memorable, yet smaller events may have brought us as much joy for they were valued moments of being present and mindful. The ability to focus our thoughts and energies with the present gives us the power to fully experience moment.  “The person who has lived the most is not the one with the most years but the one with the richest experiences.” Jean- Jacques Rousseau, philosopher

With focused awareness, the opportunity is there to value the moment.

“A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in…….what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.”   Victor Hugo, writer