I was supposed to be giving a meditation, but my mind was elsewhere. My students, who normally love taking time away from class to meditate, were excitable and not fully settling down.

As I began reading through the script, I could feel it in my own voice this session was off. I was supposed be leading it, but even I wasn’t into the moment. It was tempting to abandon the practice all together.

Then I remembered there were others who wanted to take part in this and were giving their full attention. They were listening to every word coming out of my mouth and following my example.

Reminding myself I was here to serve and be the example they should follow, I re-aligned myself and got back on track. Things settled down afterwards and the session went as planned. There were thank-yous to be had afterward.

We can set ourselves up to wait for some distant time to learn or we can ask what this moment is teaching us right now. When we bask in the present, looking carefully for what it can offer, there is always something to learn.

Learning never stops, but we can stop paying attention.