In a previous post entitled “Be Here Now,” I told you about a card that picked me when I was in a bookstore in Sun Valley, Idaho. The card read, “This is a new day, one that I have never lived before. I stay in the Now and enjoy each and every moment.”

When you focus on something, you will be amazed at the things that “come” to you in the way of connections. A simple example: If you’re thinking of getting a golden retriever, you will begin to see them all over the place. You didn’t really notice before how many different colors of golden retrievers there are, but now that you’re focused on it, you notice them everywhere.

I’ve been working on “being in the moment” more – and believe me, it takes practice. Right now is all we have – the past is gone, and the future is not here yet, so we don’t have either of those.

I’m not sure if Dan Millman came up with the phrase “No ordinary moments,” but it is with him that I associate that expression. When we are focused on right now, we see things we would otherwise miss if we are thinking about the past or the future.

As one way to be “in the moment,” I have taken a lesson from Fremont, my 90-lb golden retriever. Every morning, Fremont and I have a routine. He waits until I wake up and tell him it’s ok to get on the bed. He then jumps up and snuggles as close to me as possible as I rub his ears and talk to him. Although he hasn’t gone outside for 10 hours and hasn’t eaten in 12 hours, he is not worried about eating or going outside – he is totally focused on what’s happening at that moment.

He helps me to practice the same every day. I don’t think about what I’m going to do when I get up; I am just being with him that moment with no other thought than enjoying our time together.

An added bonus to my time with Fremont in the morning is that it is impossible to wake up in a bad mood – how can I when I am being given and giving in return unconditional love. It is certainly no ordinary moment – and it’s a wonderful way to start my day.