Long term planning is banned!

I have often been drawn to activities in which you are placed front and centre, "in the moment". The risk, difficulty or pure enjoyment in fact force you to consider nothing but the moment in which you are in. You may hear surfers saying that when deep in a tube it is as if time stands still, which reflects this idea. It stands still because you are totally focused on the movement of the wave, the way it is wrapping, your speed and height, the feeling of the bubble behind you. When moutainn biking and flying down a technical single track, you are picking lines that will maintain speed, you use subtle movements to ensure the bike is in the right position for each turn, peddle, lean, slight braking, weight forward, weight back. When getting through the crux of a climb, you balance the need to move quickly so you don't get too pumped, and making sure each move sticks. You balance too, small movements to make sure you flow.

Being in the moment is about the need to think of a million things at once, yet seem to be thinking of nothing. When your body just works for you. And the reason you search for this? Well, when you experience it, you will just know. All is good in the world, you accomplish, you experience joy, you think of nothing else that matters, and in fact, for that moment, nothing else does matter.

Perhaps another reason why for some, seeking this moment is such an essential part of their (and my) life, is that, for everything else, we seem to plan, plan and then re-plan. The grass is always greener, we don't have enough money, we can't afford to experience that, we need to be sensible, we need to plan for our retirement (when we may not be able to do any of the things we would really like to now!), we need to make sure other people are impressed with us, or at least don't think we are useless.

So, for a moment, let's ban long term planning. Let's not think about the house we want in 5 years time. Let's not think about the high school our 4 year old may or may not be attending. Let's not look at the world and our options in it from a 'worst case scenario' point of view. Let's not plan for the long term.

Now, when we do that, do we change our perceptions on anything?