When we are present with our loved ones, they can feel that they are loved. Our time is our most precious gift. The modern world is full of distractions; our phones, our TVs, even our appliances that beep at us. When we can consciously lay aside these distractions, we say to the one we are with, I am present here and now with you, I love you. When we lose a loved one, these moments of presence will be the jewels that shine in our memory. By being present with our loved ones, we can be of service to them.

When we are present  with our food, we can feel that we are loved. The food that we eat has come from our Mother Earth and is made of starlight, rain and stone, transformed into life that nourishes us. What a grand alchemy of the universe! Much love and work has gone into that food. Hands that plant, tend, pick, deliver and cook. When we eat, we are nourished by Mother Earth. When we are present with our food, we can feel the pure joy of it, savour its taste and know that we are a part of the mystery of life.

When we are present with our body, we can hear its wisdom. Conscious movement helps us move into the wisdom of our heart, our stomach, our limbs and our breath. Each hold unique insights as to who we are, a community of cells, bacteria and fungi that creates the being that we are. Celebrating our body through movement can bring pure joy and exuberant expression to our inner knowing. Be present with our feet on the earth, the breath in our lungs and the beat of our heart. When we move, we say to our body, I celebrate you. You are strong and beautiful. I love you. By moving with love and joy we can be of service by showing others how they can move with love and joy too.

When we are present with our body, we can hear its needs, and as we tend to our needs, so we are better able to tend to others. Rest is sacred, a time for our body, heart, mind and spirit to heal. Rest gives us strength to face difficult times and challenging situations. Rest allows us to serve others with full hearts. When we rest, we say to our body, I am listening to you, I am present with you. I love you. The modern world demands that we do not stop, but in resting we serve others by saying it is right and good to rest. I can rest and so can you.

When we are present within our boundaries, we can learn how to respect them so we can always feel safe. When we are safe, we can be of service to others. When we feel unsafe, our energy will be directed towards our own survival. Boundaries let us move freely in our own space and time and allow us to connect to others in mutually healthy ways. When we honour our boundaries we say to ourselves, I respect my and others safety and wellness. I love you. By honouring our boundaries we can be of service by feeling safe and respectful.

When we are present with our suffering, we learn that it can teach us great love and compassion. We understand our own grief, loss, guilt and anger, and so we can understand others. Suffering creates empathy for all those who suffer, whether human, animal or plant. Our compassion creates kindness, which spreads out into the world and reduces suffering. Suffering shows us how to love with an open heart, as we are connected to all suffering. By accepting our suffering, we release it and make space for joy. When we are present with our suffering, we say to it that our suffering is our teacher, and through it we learn great love, compassion and kindness. I love you. We must not ignore or try to hide our suffering. Suffering can open the path of the bodhisattva to us, so we can be of service to others.

When we are present with our suffering, we can welcome forgiveness. Forgiveness of ourselves and forgiveness of others. Sometimes our loved ones can cause us pain. But through stepping onto the path of the bodhisattva, through choosing to open our hearts with hope and courage, we can allow forgiveness in. The pain and suffering we have experienced can be our most profound teacher, and so we can forgive those that caused it. When we are present with our forgiveness we say to ourselves, I release myself from the weight of this suffering and allow it to transform into love and compassion. I love you. Forgiveness allows us to be of service by existing in love.

When we are present with our struggle, we can welcome our courage in. Sometimes we must fight for what is right. Sometimes we must do that even in the full knowledge that we will not win. But by standing in our truth and speaking up, we allow hope and courage to flow through us. When we are present with our courage and our truth, we say to the world, I will defend all beings that need it. I will not be silent. I love you. By being in hope and courage, we can be of service to beings that suffer, and that sometimes might be ourselves.

When we are present with joy, we find strength and love. Joy may come from the feel of sun on your skin or the wind in your hair, gazing on the beauty of nature, being with loved ones, eating nourishing food, conscious movement, resting deeply, smelling a flower, or many other small things. Joy gives us strength to meet suffering, it gives us power to stand in truth and courage, allows us to be present here and now,in our bodies, with our loved ones. When we are present with joy we say, I am blessed, I am filled with abundance and I am content. I love you. By being present with joy, we can be of service to the whole world by sending out that joy through love.