Dinner should be relaxing. I like eating :) Yet so often, I don’t enjoy my meals…

Today was longer than normal, due to a conference I attended after work (with John and Julie Gottman, if you’ve heard of them). My brain was tired by my drive home, I found myself thinking pretty pessimistically. I even consciously tried to stem the pessimism through gratitude…

What are some things I’m grateful for? … My car. But it has a cracked windshield and no cruise control… Focus! What am I grateful for? …The weather warming up. But I was inside all day…”

So many buts (with one “t”). I found myself anxious about the past and depressed about the future. Forgetting the present. When I got home, I decided to focus on one thing — dinner :) I set a goal to be present and mindful while preparing and eating dinner. By the end, I felt relaxed (and full :). Being present is powerful!

I’m reminded of when President Monson taught:

Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family.

It’s hard to find joy in the journey if we’re never completely present in it!

I heard HWN today being present during dinner :)