Is it just me, or does anyone else blink and realize that another month has zipped by? It's March 3rd already!

Time seems to have this slippery way of escaping, often before we can fully grasp it. This sensation is called "forgetful delusion." It's that autopilot state where we move through life semi-consciously.

Imagine driving somewhere familiar and arriving without any real memory of the journey. We might even devour a whole meal and later have no recollection at all of who ate it!

This trance-like state blinds us to the simple wonders around us. We miss the dance of storm clouds, the crispness of a spring day, even the warmth in the eyes of someone we love. Chunks of our life vanish unlived.

Modern life, with its relentless pace and demand for multitasking, fuels chronic inattention. We become bored and restless, easy prey to numbing distractions and addictions.

What's considered "normal" in mainstream Western culture might, in fact, indicate a deep level of delusion. We can be outwardly successful, yet inwardly bereft.

There’s a sign at the entrance to a monastery in Thailand that hits the nail on the proverbial head: "Hey there. You've been asleep for a long time. Isn't it time to awaken?"

Mindfulness is our wake-up call. It snaps us out of the fantasy-filled autopilot and into clear and present awareness.

The mind's habit of chasing the pleasant, rejecting the unpleasant, and spacing out with the ordinary all melt away. What once seemed neutral or boring shimmers with newfound life when we pay attention.

So next time you find yourself wondering where those weeks and months have gone, take a deep breath. And remind yourself that the present moment is the only place where life truly happens.

Pay close attention to the small, seemingly insignificant things — they hold the key to shaking off the forgetful delusion and living life with wonder and presence. 🙂