As the title of my site suggests, I am ALL about living in the present moment. It's very difficult to focus on the now and not to get caught up in fretting about the past or worrying about the future. It's very important to stay focused on the now and one way that I find really helpful (and that you've mentioned here) is being grateful. Nothing helps us stay focused on the present than remembering just how lucky we are.
Positively Present  at 11:25 am on April 5, 2009

Thanks for your input on this Positively Present :)
Ginger M  at 3:50 am on April 7, 2009

I remember I read in a book (the name of which I do not remember) that we do not possess the future, nor the past and have nothing but 'now'. From me, I would just like to add that this 'now' that we have is in fact everything. Please check out my site. In my latest entry, I described and gave the details of a few places (hidden gems) in Amsterdam worthy of visiting. Mind-numbing chocolate you'll find here: Puccini Bomboni (Singel 184 or at their second location on Staalstraat 17); Unlimited Delicious (Haarlemmerstraat 122). Nice places to have your breakfast/lunch are: Dish Global Kitchen (Overtoom 225, quite close to Vondel Park); Latei (Zeedijk 143, open for dinner too). Fancy garlicky meal, with garlick even in your dessert? Go to Garlick Queen (Reguliersdwarsstraat 27), but make sure you make reservations first - the place is really popular(http://www.garlicqueen.nl/index.php?lang=en)! Amsterdam is a city that has lots of these small places run by families where you'll certainly be treated to delicious small (or big) feasts. One word of warning though: steer clear of restaurants/lunchrooms on touristry streets; the food that's served there is usually a shadow of itself and, what makes it even worse, is more expensive. So are you coming to Amsterdam? :)
anya  at 4:17 am on April 7, 2009