From Troncones, Mexico: Being Present Means Saying No To Project Plans

It’s 5am and I’m writing this from underneath a mosquito net in my outdoor beach-side bungalow in Troncones, Mexico.

For the next few days, I’m doing some discovery at Present Moment Retreat, a beautiful place that offers many types of yoga, hiking, good wine, Spanish classes and massages galore.  When I walked in, I wanted to schedule everything, but I was guided to go with the flow, let things take their own course and I’d be allowed to schedule when I wanted to.

This freaks out any type A project planner. Particularly one from NYC.

So, I went with the flow. I put my things down in my hut – they each have a name – mine is called “Compassion.” I then tried to log on to my blackberry and yes – I couldn’t get on. Not a huge surprise being in a remote Mexican beach town.

Enter semi-meltdown #2.

I hadn’t, until now, been on Twitter for 2 days and absolutely everyone I know is at SXSW – I actually made the conscious choice to come here instead, but I so desperately want to see, hear, and feel the ideas that are rippling from there.

But I’m here, not there.

Why Being Present Sounds Good, But Is Really Damn Hard

Now, I am forced to detox from the information and connection flow. Not entirely, of course, since writing is something I came here to do. To have more space for it was one of my goals on this trip, in addition to chatting with some locals and doing a few interviews along the way to learn and share this town’s cultural brilliance with you all.

So, I”m relying on a few tried and true wise words to get me to break out of project plan land and into zen:

1. Dani, at Positively Present, writes amazing and true words about living positively in the moment. She’s been a guest contributor many times here.Every post she writes seems to come at the exact time I need it.

2 A few months ago, Justin Kownacki wrote a brilliant post on what we do with all the information that comes our way. I printed it out and carry it with me everywhere to remind me that I’m not the only one actually going crazy with trying to sort, respond and connect at warp speed.

3. One of my amazing coaches, Jennifer Macaluso-Gilmore, reminded me earlier this week of the Law of Least Effort during a chat. A sign? Yes, I think so.

4. Finally, I have with me the many words and suggestions of Lisa, my source of sanity and teacher at Sonic Yoga, who reminded me before I left that this is a moment.  Funny enough, I watched three films on the plane yesterday all talking about sitting in the moment without feeling the need to write the next email, catch the next plane, have an hourly schedule.

My biggest goal: to take the idea of being present, one that is reflected in almost all religious and spiritual cultural teachings – and bring it back to the big city.

Maybe I’ll even put it on the agenda for discussion for my next team meeting at work – without a project plan.

What does it mean for you to be present in your life, with others or to yourself? Harder than it sounds or easier than we think? All suggestions welcome.

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Tagged as: Authentic Living, Health and Wellness, Jennifer Macaluso Gilmore, Justin Kownacki, Laura Cococcia, Motivation, Positively Present, Present Moment Retreat, Spirituality, Troncones, Yoga