PEOPLE ARE SO CONCERNED WITH ADDING DAYS TO THEIR LIFE, THEY FORGET TO ADD LIFE TO THEIR DAYS.

The past is history. The future is a mystery. The only time we really have is now — just this moment. Whether you are a working woman or a stay-at-home mom, you will feel more alive by living in the moment.

If you have ever found yourself at home thinking about what you need to do at work, or at work thinking about things happening in your personal life, you know how distracting it is. Living in the moment means you are totally immersed in an experience. Think back on the events in your life that you vividly remember. Those are the events where you were living in the moment. Even though years have passed, you can still remember the details.

Living in the moment is easy during special times in your life. However, most days don’t contain special events, and unless you learn to live in the moment, worry, fear, resentments or other distractions will rob you of your life. Wayne Dyer — in his many books — talks about the compulsion some people have of always wanting more before they can be happy — more money, a better house, a fancier car, a better spouse, etc. Those people never get to a place of arriving — or enjoying the moment.

Steve Strauss, a professional speaker and personal coach in Pottsboro, Texas, suggests that you ask yourself, “What if this is as good as it gets?”

Strauss said: “While driving down a quiet country highway, in the clear winter sunlight, that question popped into my mind. My first reaction was to see that I had spent a huge part of my life fantasizing about the future, when things would get `better.’ When I let go of requiring that the future be any certain way — Poof! Suddenly I became content with what I had now.

“That was a shock because I had always assumed a better future; which implies that there is something wrong with now. To realize that right now is great has been tremendously freeing. It has led to gratitude and a surge of energy and strength.”

Here are some activities to help you practice living in the moment:

• Take a bubble bath. Play some soft music. Relax and feel the warmth of the water. Just think of how you are enjoying the moment.

• Drive a different route to work. Get off the highway and take the city streets to work. As you drive, notice the trees and houses as you pass through different neighborhoods.

• Eat a gourmet meal at a fancy restaurant. You will experience living in the moment as you en joy the total experience of the atmosphere, the service and the delicious food.

• Play a sport such as tennis. You have to concentrate and be aware of everything that is happening at the moment. There isn’t time to lament over the last shot because another one is coming right back at you.

• Dance to your favorite music. You will become immersed in the music as your body moves and you will begin to feel vibrant and alive.

• Play card games. When you play games such as bridge or poker, you have to concentrate or you risk losing the game.

• Enjoy a creative hobby. Painting, wood-work or crafts will absorb all your attention as you focus on your creation.

• Take a vacation. Vacations are rejuvenating and energizing because you are physically away from the day-to-day cares of living and totally immersed in sightseeing or other vacation activities.

• Look at the funny side of life. Notice how people who are always preoccupied with worry, resentment or other things don’t usually have a sense of humor. Having a sense of humor requires living in the moment because you have to look all around for the funny things that are happening.

• Keep a journal. At the end of each day, write about the moments when you were totally present. Eventually, living in the moment will become a habit that will add happiness, enthusiasm, and vitality to your days.