In March 2025, I wrote down three ways of playing with the English word “present”. I used them as an image to remind myself to return my attention to now. They were personal associations, not the word’s linguistic origin or a scientific definition of consciousness.
Three meanings I gave the image
- “Pre”, before the thought: an invitation to step back from the commentary I had begun adding to a moment.
- A present, a gift: a way to appreciate the experience in front of me.
- “Pre-sent”, sent by my higher self: the spiritual interpretation I brought to it.
The English spelling makes the wordplay possible. My belief about a higher self is part of my outlook, not a fact the spelling establishes.
What I meant by going back
The original article imagined a situation in which I was overthinking and could not make up my mind. I described returning to the moment before the thought. I mean that as an image for redirecting attention, not literally reversing time.
There is also a limit to the phrase “before thought”. Having a thought does not mean I have failed to be present. The reminder is useful to me when it helps me notice what I am doing, rather than adding another standard I must perfectly meet.
The reading I connected with it
I recommended The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle alongside the reflection. The three-part wordplay here is my explanation; I am not attributing it to him.
The original text also described the present as a place where everything is fine. That is too absolute. Attention to a moment does not make every situation peaceful or remove a problem that needs action.
What I keep is the reminder: notice the experience before becoming completely occupied with the story I am telling about it.
