“DON’T MINUS YOUR MOMENTS”, A GENTLE REMINDER TO BE PRESENT!

 

So I was having one of those deep, heart-spilling chats with my girl Ciru Ivy... not sure if she’s okay with me using her government name, but here we are. You know those conversations that start off as casual check-ins and somehow dig their way into the soul? Yeah, one of those.

We were talking about life, dreams, goals... the usual spiral of “I haven’t done this” and “I thought by now I’d have achieved that.” I found myself in this space of low-key complaining, feeling like I was falling behind or not doing enough. And in true Ciru fashion, she paused and said something that froze time for a second.

“Don’t minus your moments.”

Whew. Let that sit.

It hit me like a soft slap to the soul. Not harsh... but firm. And so true.

She was reminding me that in my pursuit of big goals and those dreamy milestones, I’ve been overlooking the beauty in what I already have. Things I prayed for. Things I hoped would happen “one day.” And now that they’re here... I’m not even fully appreciating them because my eyes are too fixed on what’s next.

Like spending time with my parents, laughing with my siblings, being able to wake up and do something I love, even in small doses. These things are real. They matter. And they’re happening now. However, I’ve been bypassing them because they don’t appear to be a grand achievement on paper.

How many of us do that?

We keep chasing the next big thing... the next win... the next sign that we're making it. And in that chase, we miss out on the quiet joys that surround us daily. Moments that are soaked in love, comfort, and peace... even if they don’t come with trophies or applause.

Ciru’s words stayed with me. I kept thinking... why do we do that? Why do we keep forgoing what’s important, especially when some of it is literally what we once cried or prayed for?

I think part of it is the world we live in. Everything is fast. Everyone’s posting milestones. Everyone’s “doing big things.” So even on our good days, we feel like we’re behind. We feel like unless it’s something worth broadcasting, it’s not worth celebrating. And that’s a lie... a sneaky one.

There’s something so sacred about practicing in private. About enjoying what you do without the pressure to perform or prove anything. Whether it's creating art, writing, cooking, resting, or simply laughing with your people. That quiet presence... that soft joy... It’s not small. It’s everything.

I'm learning to sit in those moments more. To notice them. To hold them a little tighter and say thank you.

Because the truth is, the present matters. This current version of life… yes, even the messy, unfiltered parts, has meaning. And while I still believe in dreaming and reaching for more, I don't want to be so forward-focused that I miss the grace right here with me.

So now, when I catch myself spiraling into “I haven’t done enough,” I hear Ciru’s voice in my head saying, “Don’t minus your moments.” It reminds me to pause. To breathe. To look around at the people, the spaces, the peace I already have... and to know that I am not behind. I am living.

And that’s enough.