​Right Here Right Now

​Wishing each of you the happiest of holidays as we begin the festive and religious month of December. May you enjoy every moment of celebrating, recalling previous holidays and creating new memories with friends and family, right here and right now. 
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In my late thirties, I had a group of girlfriends who began exploring a variety of spiritual viewpoints. We had fallen away from our childhood religious beliefs and were searching for a new perspective and connection with God. We attended a variety of churches and workshops and listened to the latest and greatest speakers on personal growth and enlightenment. The 80's and 90's were saturated with self-proclaimed gurus and teachers all professing a path to self-realization, spiritual awakening, and reaching the pinnacle of a happy life. 

On one of our travels to Sedona, we came upon a book, Be Here Now, written by guru Ram Dass, in which he tells his story of his spiritual wakening and transformation from Professor Richard Alpert. He held appointments in four departments at Harvard University, and relished an elite lifestyle, until he moved to India and was introduced to mindful breath, yoga, Eastern philosophy and became spiritual guru Baba Ram Dass and reached his pinnacle of a happy life.  

I don’t recall if we purchased the book, but the concept of being right here right now stayed with us. On our drive home we discussed ways in which we could be more conscious of being present in every moment. How could we be with each other more completely without distractions; those thoughts that break automatically into the thinking process and prevent us from being fully present. Now we have cell phones and the internet to add to this distraction. Initially, we were serious about the "Be Here Now" concept and as the years passed, we would jokingly say to each other, "are you here right now?" And we’d chuckle but understood the relevance of being fully present.  

Some are better at the right here right now practice. I see it with moms with their little ones as they teach them to wash their hands and say thank you and please. Mary Beth became a grandmother to a third granddaughter a few weeks ago. Looking at the photos she sent, I couldn’t help but notice her complete attention, gazing at the baby girl, fully present in the moment. Ohhhhh, the moments and memories yet to come. Relationships that care genuinely for each other are examples of being right here right now as well. 

Kindness and generosity surround us when we are present. It takes effort to stay on the high end of life and strive to understand instead of being understood, to be interested instead of interesting. The best memories are made when we are fully attentive to the moment. 

This December is the 29th Christmas Holiday since Pluma opened its doors as a business. I am thankful for the many who have joined us along the way, for those who worked with us, and for the hundreds of clients who bless us year after year. We are thankful for your loyal presence in our lives. And for our Pluma Team, who are right here right now…. undoubtedly moments and memories are still in the making. May God continue to bless us all this beautiful holiday season.  
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Merry Christmas with love,
Hilda