At my retreats, we’re working with the phrase, “I am here.”
On Saturday’s retreat, we coupled “I am here” with all kinds of experiences: yoga (lead by the wonderful Brandie Werner), feeling into our feet, back, hands, head and heart (also known as centering), visualization, we even said it while savoring chocolate.
I am here.
This itty-itchy phrase wakes me up with a firm tap on my pay attention chakra.
I am here. Suddenly, wherever I am (on a plane as I write this) snaps into being.
I am aware of the chair supporting my back, my sore hip, the taste of coleslaw from dinner, the family speaking Vietnamese across the aisle, flickering images of The Office on the monitor.
I’m here. This is my life. I chose this.
I choose this.
And yes, sometimes the thought follows, “Shit, I’m here. I’m here, sitting in this tiny airline seat, my hip hurting, unable to sleep, wishing I were home already, dreading the wait for the ferry.”
But mostly, you know what happens when I declare, “I am here”?
A big whompin holy shit wow.
This is my life. This is what I’m happening right now. This precious moment.
I’m like the main character in Precious, when her teacher asks her how it feels to talk in class, and she says, “Like I’m here.”
Showing up, claiming it, even when it scares the beejuz out of me.
Which it does, about 80% of the time.
What about you? How do you claim this life? What helps you actually show up?
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Joy Tanksley Mar 8, 2010
Ah, yes. Love this.
This reminds me of a great part in Anne Lamott’s Operating Instructions… she tells the story of her friend Pammy gettting wickedly lost while driving through the French countryside. Pammy, exasperated, stumbles into a cafe and exclaims, “I am lost!” The waiter smiles and says, “You are not lost! You are right here.” I love that, and I say it often – “I am not lost. I am right here.”
Thanks for the great reminder for all of us to be present and embrace what is.
2 Kelly Salasin Mar 8, 2010
I love this reminder.
Recently, I attended a workshop at Kripalu where the presenter welcomed each arrival by saying, “Welcome here.”
Each time she said this unusual phrase, my consciousness was raised.
“Welcome here.”
I love it. My particular “here” is a touch of flu instead of spring skiing with my son.
Ouch. and Oh. What a nice reprieve after the weekend with 5 cousins visiting.
Thanks for reminding me of my creation.
3 Michelle Mar 8, 2010
Kelly, I love that phrase “Welcome here.”
I often repeat to myself, “The days are long but the years are short.” (An oldie but a goodie.) It helps remind me to slow down and be present.
4 Sue Mar 9, 2010
Thanks for a great retreat in Texas. Can’t wait for you to return and do a longer one.
5 Suzyn Mar 10, 2010
Thanks for this. I have “I am here”ed myself several times in the past few days – even lying awake after my two-year-old’s third bad dream of the night, unable to go back to sleep because I’m so excited about a new project… I am here!
6 How NOT To Have A Nervous Breakdown Mar 26, 2010
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