to be present

Years ago a friend and I had a challenge... when someone asked "how are you?" we would only answer if the person stopped and listened to the answer.  Suffice to say neither of us answered often.  Most people didn't even notice that an answer wasn't given.  Now blow up that scenario onto a bigger screen. 
What does it mean to be fully present with someone. I've been exploring that more and more.  In my world it means not doing any other thing than being with the person I'm with.  Emotionally or physically.  When I'm walking and someone asks "how are you" I make sure we have eye contact before I reply and then hold that contact until after they have given me their answer. it's great to see the look in someone's face when I give them that moment to truly answer the question and listen.  There is a quiet appreciation for not rushing past. 
Being present means not worrying or hurrying when I'm with someone.  And if I do get all muddled up I check myself and start over.  I've noticed myself doing that with my daughter when I'm really not listening or being available fully.  I correct myself, often out loud, so she understands where I was and why I needed to start again.  The results are so precious that it's worth the practice in learning to be here.
Walking I often take out my ipod headphones so I can hear the world around me.  To be fully present with the trees, the paths, the wind, the sun.  I love the music but I use it to take me out of the moment and into another.  There are times when I intentionally listen to the music to disconnect me from the presence of the traffic, or the crowds of people around me. I'm conscious of the differences and how they are serving me. 
I am grateful for a quieter life these days that I am allowing to be a portal into being more present with life.  My distraction and disconnect before was not music but busy-ness and emotional distance.  I intellectually understood the concept of presence and I dabbled but didn't really get it. I am much more engaged with the practice of presence now and loving it.  I love the feeling and seeing beyond the surface of me, of you, of us, of space of time....for that's what presence does, it takes you beyond the surface into the other, into their story, into their heart, into their mind.  From that place I receive expanded perspectives, deeper understandings and greater compassion. 
 
In a culture that encourages us to be anywhere than where we are, to be present with someone, some activity or some place is an oddity.  Be odd.  Be present.  Be fully focused in the moment with both mind and body. That's my goal for the day.  From the simple to the sublime my intention is to be connected to what I'm doing and thinking.  Really feel life instead of just moving through it. 
I'm not in a rush to live today.  I'm enjoying the beauty of feeling these words, reflecting on experiences of being present, of watching the sun stream across my shiny floors, seeing the light dance through the coloured glass on the table... my list of things to do will get done.  One at a time.  With presence.  With love.