The Game of Life

Last Night watching Game 5 of the NBA Finals, I was reminded of one of Life's Truths that seems simple yet is so difficult to master. Be in the present and live each moment fully.

Last night's game was a nail biter between the Spurs and the Pistons which went into overtime. It was a must win game for both teams and the pressure on each team was evident throughout the game. But the Spurs prevailed in the end by 1 point with the game winning 3 point basket by Robert Horry. Horry was poetry in motion the whole game and he was clearly in "the zone". There was no evidence of the importance or extreme pressure in his game at all. He appeared to be poised and relaxed. So when he received the pass and turned to make the 3 pointer, he made it look like the easiest thing in the world to sink a game winning basket. His play was in complete contrast to teammate, Tim Duncan, who struggled the entire second half and who looked like he played with the weight of the world on his shoulders. In fact, Tim had the chance to make the game winning basket in the last few seconds of regulation play, but he choked. He was grasping for the future not living in the moment.

When the floor reporter asked Horry how he was able to handle the extreme pressure to make the game winning shot, Horry just smiled, shrugged, and replied that he just likes playing basketball and playing basketball is fun. Ah, so there it is. He was playing to have fun. He wasn't playing for the future outcome. Although I'm sure he was fully aware of the importance of the outcome of the game, he didn't worry it or grasp and claw for it. He played each moment in the moment and he had fun doing it! So the future outcome worked itself out.

So that's a reminder for all of us. Are you living in the present? Are you living and enjoying each moment as much as you can or are you fretting about the future? Are you too caught up in worrying about the report deadline? Are you too worried about paying the bills? Or worried about where you'll be living next year? Stop it then. Worrying about the future won't help the outcome and all that you wind up doing in grasping for the future is you lose the present. Live each moment and each moment after that and the future will take care of itself. Yes, you must plan for the future. So make your plans and do what you must to set them in motion. Once done though take a step back to the present. Take joy wherever you can because you won't get this moment back ever again. Of course most of Life is not a Game, but we can make it so here and there. Have fun when you can. Smile. Laugh. And know that the future will be better when you really and truly live each moment and find joy whenever possible in the present!!