taking a moment...

there are always tiny moments in life that are reminders to us...possibly a learning moment...the key is to be open to them...i think a lot of that is missed when we are in a hurry with our list of things to do...or on our way to somewhere...and miss all the in between time...

i had such a moment this weekend...it was just a moment...but it confirmed for me how i want to live my life...i have always loved meeting people...learning where they are from...backgrounds...culture...my friends often times laugh at me...because i talk to just about anyone...in elevators, stores...just about anywhere there are people...

while walking down rodeo drive in beverly hills on saturday...we were passing a store as a man was walking out...he stopped...grabbed my hand...and said "hello...where are you lovely ladies from?"

as we talked to him...we found out he was from italy...the owner of bellini's...he owned 42 stores...he continued talking to us...giving my nieces advice about staying in school... going to college...following passions...

we were deep in conversation...right there in front of his store...when one of his employees came out and said that he had a phone call...he politely told them to take a message...that he was in the middle of a conversation with four beautiful women...

the employee than informed him that it was italy on the phone...and the owner again said...just take a message...i will call them back...

what i took away from this...as this was obviously a very busy man...a very wealthy man...was he realized balance...it wasn't all about working...running back in to answer a call from italy...but that people were important...and while talking to someone...which was us at the moment...what he was doing at that moment was what required his complete attention...

we were complete strangers to him...but he showed that he lived in the moment...and that everything had its time and place...

our weekend was full of living in the moment...and i came back home very relaxed...having a weekend full of all the simple pleasures...some of which i hadn't done in so long...watching the sunset...squishing my toes in the sand...

the reminder for me...was to take moments...and lavish in them...while in the moment...take it all in...don't be thinking about the next thing on the list...that time will come...

in a world of cell phones, email, texting...it is so easy to be distracted...but for me...i want to live in the moment...when i am spending time with someone...to turn off the phone...and really concentrate on my time with who i am with...whether it be family or friend...

after all...isn't that what voicemail is for anyway?