In June I decided to try an experiment. I would go to Disneyland by myself for a few hours to see what it would be like to spend time alone at a place that caters to families and friends. I like to be around people so I thought it would be hard but in reality I really liked it and I want to do it again sometime. I also usually over plan for Disneyland trips to try to get the most out of the day. The more attractions I go on, the better I can call the day a success. It usually ends up being chaotic trying to make sure I get the fast passes and then make sure I make it back to the ride on time to use said fast pass. This time I walked through the security check point and didn’t know which park to go to. At the Disneyland Resort you have the classic Disneyland Magic Kingdom on one side and the newer Disney California Adventure (DCA) on the other side. If I was with a group I probably would have headed to Disneyland first but I went for DCA instead. I just wondered around and went on whatever I wanted. I also took advantage of single rider lines which are far better than the fast pass line because they fill you in wherever they have extra spaces and they always have extra spaces for singles. If the wait for a ride was 70 minutes then I ended up waiting 10 minutes. It was fun.
The purpose of this post is not to give a trip report but to share what I learned. I can never hold onto a moment because the moment will leave as quickly as it came. For example, the photo that is featured on this post is of Paradise Pier at DCA. This was a great moment that I enjoyed. I was just standing by the water and I enjoyed watching all the activity going on and I took in the sights, the sounds, and the smells of DCA. I had no place to be and I had no agenda. I was able to just stop and take it in and enjoy the moment.
On most days my usual modes are:
Reflecting on the past: I am second guessing my past actions and thinking about what I could have done differently or I am thinking about ‘happier’ times in my life which usually weren’t any better or worse than they are today in reality.
Thinking about the future: I am fretting over what tomorrow will bring. Thinking about future appointments and how I am going to act or think about what I am going to say.
Not living in the present: I am so busy regretting the past and worrying about the future that I forget to live in the present. There are times where I am having a great time but then I focus on the fact that that moment will soon be a memory which quickly ruins my enjoyment. I am morning the loss of the moment while I am still in it as I feel it slipping away.
So what I learned was that moments in life will come and go and it is important to just stop and live in the present…. to just be in the present. Enjoy looking out at the water, enjoy spending time with family and friends, and sometimes just enjoy being okay with being alone. And in those moments, turn off your digital devices so you can’t be interrupted. If you are spending time with someone, give them all your attention. And most important, never try to hold onto the moment because no mater what you do it will go away. Enjoy it while it lasts and never mourn its loss. It was great for a time and that time is gone and that’s okay. Over time most of the memories will fade but I will be able to hold onto the emotion of how I felt because I chose to live in the moment.