Who: Christina Stefanik
Where and When: The parking lot of a Stop-N-Shop in Carle Place, NY last week, on Thursday, October 14
What about this photo makes it special? “While completing the daily mundane errands of the “at-home-mom,” I witnessed a beautiful moment…At my local Stop-N-Shop, in the parking lot are planted beautiful butterfly bushes as part of the parking spot dividers. I always look to these bushes for signs of the butterflies they are known to attract. This particular cool overcast fall day, my search was rewarded… I had to share this wonderful moment with someone, so I saw a young “hip” looking man parked next to me. I asked “Did you see the butterflies?”. He said “No.” So I pointed him in the right direction. He immediately took out his own phone and started taking photos!
I spent the rest of the day humming the song “Big Yellow Taxi” (the Counting Crows version). Thanks to the urban planner for being so thoughtful!”
How do you live in the moment? “I try to live in the moment every day by recognizing the beauty in my daily life. I try to open my heart and recognize that beauty and humor are right in front of me. I try not to dwell on the past or worry about the future because then I will miss 
the here and now. If I see something really cool like the butterflies or even an awesome spider web, I try to share it with someone. When I am with a person who makes me smile or gives me joy, I give them a big hug and tell them how special they are to me. I look for anything that reminds me to stay present. Yoga is a great way to stay present but sometimes a trinket or some sort of “anchor” helps to remind me to stay “here”. My latest acquisition is a little sign that I have hanging in my kitchen. It reads “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” I stop and I breathe. If a situation or person gives me bad energy . . . I step away.
And most important, I remind myself that I am a work in progress and I am constantly evolving. I’m not perfect and that is perfectly OK!”
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