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If there is one thing we must all learn, it is to be present.  Being present is not just having your body present.  It means having your mind present.

How often following the constant barrage of news telling us of the dire economic straits we are in, have you and I been somewhere physically but not mentally.  We all have a tendency to drift off into our own thoughts, to let “now” pass us by as if the passage of time will change our lives… will do the work for us?  Well, the truth is time does take care of many things.  And, over time things will change. 

However, the test of this time in our lives is to be present and alert.  Keep the feelers out.  Turn the radar on.  There are opportunities abounding, but we have to be present to see them and to grasp them.  Even if you are one of the smarter ones who has set goals, it is imperative that you learn to be present.

I am a firm believer that we must take action to accomplish our goals.  We must state them clearly and track our progress.  But, that does not mean that we shut out the world and think of nothing else. 

When we are present, wherever we are, we are attentive.  We are looking for signs.  And, there are plenty of road signs that will help us if we only look for them and follow-up.

As an example, I have a neighbor in her thirties who is the mother of three.  She really wanted to do something to contribute to the family income after they worked out their family budget.  The family realized that they had been spending more than they earned.  They set a goal to save and to pay off their credit card debt.  But, it would be next to impossible on her husband’s income.  After all they had been spending more than his income for the past several years.  That’s how they got into the credit card debt.

The wife and mother decided to go back to work if she could do so part time.  She planned to earn enough to put into the savings and make the extra payments on the credit card debt.  However, she ran into one little snag.  Once she found a job that would pay her what she needed to earn, she realized that the expense of going to the job, including child care would pretty much leave her at break even.  She turned down the job.

This young lady has learned to be present, to listen and to be alert to signals and signs.  I need to add that this young mother is an excellent cook.  One of our older neighbors had to cut back on the number of days her cleaning lady came.  In fact, the young neighbor discovered that the primary reason the older woman had help everyday was to prepare her meals.  However, with the downturn in the economy and the rise in prices across the board, she determined that she would only have her cleaning/cook come in three days a week instead of five.

The young woman offered to cook for the older woman the other two days.  And, a job was created.  It was a win-win situation for both.  The older woman has her food prepared at far less expense than paying someone to stay with her for eight hours a day.  The young woman earns a little extra income.

At first the younger one lamented that she still needed to earn quite a bit more.  But, staying present in the moment, keeping her ears open and reading all the signals, she discovered that the older neighbor has friends within two miles of us who were willing to purchase meals twice a week from my little neighbor.  In fact, the cleaning lady was the one who referred several of them. 

A business was born!  Now, five months later the young family has created a savings account and is paying down their credit card debt.  And… the business is growing.

Maybe you don’t want to be a cook for older citizens, but think of how it came about for my neighbor.  When times were looking pretty rough, the family set goals.  At first it looked as if they may not be able to stay on track.  But, through observation and staying present, the wife created a job for herself that she loves.  She stays home with the children.  When asked, she said that she really didn’t spend that much extra time in the kitchen. 

Being present is the ability to feel and sense what is going on around you and being prepared to take action when oppotunities present themselves.  I’m not about to suggest that any of us become cooks.  I am suggesting that each of us have a hobby or a passion that we can turn into cash.  It is all a matter or being present when the opportunity arises.

Get out into the world and while you are out there, be present.  Take note of the abilities you have and the opportunities that match up with your skills.  Learn to be alert to what is going on around you.  Be prepared to take advantge of the opportunities.

Get out there and open your senses!  Be present!