The Secret of the River

What matters most is happening now. Are you fully present?

I was introduced to the writing of Herman Hesse in college. His Siddhartha, a piece about spiritual quest, had a significant impact on my own search for understanding at that time. 

When I recently reached for the well preserved book, I was surprised that there were only a few dog-eared pages, but each had profound content. The one that stands out to me now is about the secret of the river. 

The river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere, and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past, nor the shadow of the future.

Hesse muses that there is no such thing as time as we know it. What we are like in the past and what we will be like in the future are still part of who we are as a person. But what matters most at any given time is what we ARE just at that time.  Ask yourself:

• Are you who you want to be right now?

• Are you doing what makes you the most happy right now?

• Are you experiencing the life you want to lead right now?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, it may be good to seek out a coach. Coaching can help you fully appreciate who you are right now while setting new goals for tomorrow.