Nothing awakens us to the possibility of spiritual connection more than being present to the moment – to the one and only reality happening right now. So much of our day is spent lost inside that mind of ours… the rants that take over our happiness… the upsets we’ve left unresolved… the judgments that cloud our relationships with others… the habitual thoughts that leave us disempowered and disengaged. And on and on we go.

Contrary to what we might think, reality does not happen "in here;” reality only happens "out there.” And "out there” life can be pretty simple. Without the meanings we impose on it and the past experiences we reinforce on a daily basis, life is actually quite stunning. Each day is an opportunity to know someone for the first time, to see ourselves in a new way, or to observe the world around is as it is, without the stories we’ve created and individual limitations we’ve placed on it.

Have you ever noticed how we complicate our interactions? We get angry because of the words in an email. We say, "He was so rude to say it that way. He must think I’m stupid!” Interesting. Because, after all, to another, more objective person, it would just be an email. They are just words. We impose the meaning that brings us upset and judgment. In the end, we may eventually realize that we are the only ones who can upset us.

Someone bumps into us in the market and maybe we think, "She walked through me like I wasn’t here and didn’t even apologize. She is so inconsiderate!” Is she? Or did two people simply bump into each other. Without the meaning – it becomes a very straightforward event. Without the meaning, it just becomes, "Our arms touched as we walked past each other.” Period. How much easier is that?

When we hold back on allocating meaning to events and people, we can create something new. We have the chance to take accountability for our happiness and our understanding of the world. When we see things as they are, without any inherent meaning or definition, we are free to enjoy all of life and to be powerful in the face of challenges. We no longer waste precious time and energy in making up a story about who we think the other person is or what things were supposed to mean. We can see it all very clearly.

And suddenly, I realize that myself and that person over there are more connected than I’d like to acknowledge – we’re the same her and I – and we share so much in common in this human experience.

So, just for today, stay in the moment. Watch what is happening. Take events and emails and phone calls at face value. Don’t try to figure out what they are thinking or what it all means. Just be grateful for this chance to have another day to experience connection and awareness and health. Be in the now.

Billy Rosa is a Registered Nurse, Integrative Nurse Coach Visiting Faculty, University of Rwanda