It is a really simple concept in Zen, but it is terribly difficult for most people to pull off in reality.

Be here now.

I had a class working on a series of kicks using kicking shields. As I counted and the kiddos were “working”, they started talking about nonsense while kicking.

There is a reason you cannot improve if this is how you practice. You need to remain focused, mindful, aware. Using kicking as an example; if you pay attention, your body will tell you if your technique is off. Pains and strains are a signal that you should feel, identify, and make the necessary adjustments for improvement.

Of course, this has implications for all aspects of your life as well. When you are at work, is your mind there too? When you lie down at night, are you resting, or are you stressing over things that happened today or things that might happen tomorrow?

That is unhealthy and unsustainable.

Referencing back to my post on the lessons of the Samurai, I had an experience after a near-fatal surgical complication that gave me a new perspective and allowed me to live in the now a lot more frequently than I did before. It isn’t a superpower, but it does improve your life if you can manage to just be present in the moment.