My kids often said, “Mom’s in the zone.” Whether I was reading, playing on my phone, or working on something, I could become completely oblivious to what was happening around me. They may have tried asking for a snack or if they could play with friends, and I wouldn’t have heard a word that was said–I was in the zone.
Missing moments that matter
I’ve missed conversations when I was focused on something else. Neglecting to respond to a question is common. I’ve even missed a turn while driving or forgotten where I was going, lost in thought about something entirely different. The truth is, I can be fully present with one thing but completely neglect another.
Recently I was watching my grandson. For a brief moment, I was caught up in the zone, my mind elsewhere. Suddenly, I heard his persistent, “oh no.” When I asked him to show me the “oh no,” I discovered that his balloon had floated outside of the fenced yard. I quickly retrieved it, but the moment was a reminder–being fully present is more important that I often realize.
Letting go of distraction
As a young mom, I tried to multitask. I juggled raising small children, keeping the house, cooking, and volunteering. I’d get frustrated with my kids for their insistence when I was focused on something else, and unsurprisingly, multitasking often failed. I could only truly pay attention to one thing at a time. Now, as a Gigi, I see how much more rewarding it is to practice being fully present, and I’m acutely aware of how often I missed the opportunity with my own kids.
This tendency spills over into other areas of my life. At work, I aim to be more efficient by multitasking. In meetings or conversations with friends, my mind drift to the next item on my to-do list. Or, I miss what my partner is saying because I’m distracted by my phone. It is so easy to slip into the zone and miss the opportunity to be present in the moment.
As I get older, I’m increasingly aware of how fleeting moments are. We won’t pass this way again. That encounter may not present itself another time. My loved one won’t always be here, and children grow up, needing less of our attention. The best gift I can give–to myself and those around me–is to be fully present. Slowing down, focusing on what’s in front of me, and cherishing the people in my life is the best kind of zone to be in.