It’s not about working faster and harder cramming as much as you can in as little time as you can. Oh, I bet you do. I was one of those people too. How can you tell?

Are you bent over your computer?

Do you think about everything else but where you are right now?

Are you ticking the time away before snack or meal?

Do you have mind-altering distractions on to numb yourself?

Numbing ourselves is a sure sign that we are under duress.

We are not kind to who we are.

We don’t love the essence that is in the body.

Are you breathing full and robust?

Space and time take a lifetime to master. But if we are conscious enough, we can pull ourselves back into the present moment.

The present moment is this:

You are alive, and as long as you are living, you are part of the space-time continuum.

The space-time continuum and you are partners.

Give it up. Trying to beat time and space.

Relax and see what happens when you’re in the present moment.

What happens if you fully concentrate on doing whatever you are doing? Consider, whatever you are doing to be an art form because it is. You, space and time are working on something that is worthy of your time and attention.

Activity in the present is a mindful meditation to explore.

And what about validating yourself?

On the way home from work or when you get home or wherever you have quiet. Press the record button on your smartphone and talk to yourself. Yes, talk to yourself. See what you are saying because whatever you are saying is a vital story. Talk for as long as you want.

When you are through talking, play it back. Listen to yourself. Listen to the sound, the tone, the words and the emotion. That was you just a moment ago. And you have the power to delete the recording and try again if you’d like or do it some other time. The power of our stories can be used to help us become more aware of who we are. And it’s free, even doing time.