I was in the middle of a task the other day when I realized I wasn’t really there for it. My hands were working, but my mind was somewhere else. I hadn’t forgotten what I was doing. I just wasn’t paying attention. I was present in body, but not in spirit.
That ever happen to you?
These days, it feels like we’re all stretched a little thin. Obligations, messages, decisions, headlines. It’s not just a full calendar—it’s a constant tug on the mind. There’s always something buzzing, blinking, or asking for a reply. And little by little, we’ve started treating this scattered way of living as normal.
We even compete over it. Somewhere along the line, being busy became a badge of honor. Like if you aren’t worn out and overbooked, you must not be doing enough. But I’ve come to believe that the more distracted we are, the less connected we become—to ourselves, to each other, and to what really matters.
I notice it most when I’m with the people I care about. I’ll be standing right there, nodding along, but I’m not really listening. My mind is still racing through a list of things I haven’t done yet. Later, I realize I missed the heart of the conversation. That’s not the kind of man I want to be.
It shows up in quiet moments too. I used to start my mornings with prayer. Nothing fancy. Just a moment to breathe and give thanks. Lately, I catch myself reaching for my phone before I’ve said a single word to the Lord. That’s something I need to change.
So I’ve started setting things down. Not with a big announcement, just small choices. I put the phone down. I turn off the television. I let the computer rest. And instead, I focus on what’s right in front of me. The sound of the wind. The eyes of the person I’m talking to. The quiet that reminds me I am still here.
Because the only thing that should be claiming my attention is the people I love. And they deserve more than what’s left of me at the end of a scattered day. They deserve my full presence.
–Albert
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