I love the question author Stephen Levine addresses in his book, A Year to Live: Living This Year As If It Were Your Last. What if you knew this was your last year on the planet? How would that awareness change your perspective and the choices you make on a day-to-day basis?

Would you treat your spouse differently? Would your conversations with your friends or children change? Is there something you would take action on that you’ve been postponing until the time is right? Would you interact differently with your children?

When most people are asked the question “how would you live this day (or year) if you knew it were your last?” they respond that they would want to be more present in their relationships and in all that they do.

My son loves nothing more than to be out in nature exploring (something I loved to do as a kid with my brothers as well).  Recently my friend Diane and I took our boys to a local state park. The sun warmed our backs and heads and the nearby waterfalls soothed our ears as we walked slowly over the rocks, following Jonah and Noah, letting them guide us to whatever natural treasure they happened to discover.

Our boys became mesmerized by the shells they found on the edge of the creek bed leading to the falls. We spent the next two hours there, sorting, exploring, feeling and collecting the beautiful shells.

While some of the stones look very similar to me, Jonah always points out the subtle differences between the color, size, texture and variation in his gems.

Walking along the creek, as I glanced at my watch and my mind rushed ahead to dinner plans and work emails I needed to return that night, my son looked up at me, smiling and holding out a beautiful purple shell in his small hand. “Mama, isn’t this the mostest beautiful rock you’ve ever seen?” he said.

How often do we pause to be present and really enjoy the beauty of a moment or place? Will we be present enough to recognize these gifts when they’re extended to us?

Being more present in our relationships—particularly with our partner and children—has huge benefits. When we’re present with those around us, we’re able to experience openness, connection, joy, playfulness, spontaneity, compassion, empathy, gratitude, wisdom and enhanced communication.

Questions to Help Keep Us in the Present

When I feel pulled between the demands/challenges of life and focused on how I can be more present in my everyday life, I find it helpful to pause—often—and ask the following questions:

• Am I living in the past, present or future? (If I’m feeling stressed, I’m either living in the past or the future. There is no stress in the present moment.)

• A year from now, will this really matter?

• In this moment, what is most important?

• Does this really have to get accomplished today (this month, this year)?

• What is my intention for the day? What kind of day do I want to have? (I ask my son this in the morning before kindgergarten, helping him to begin to connect how his thoughts impact his experience and the kind of day he has.)

Finally, be gentle with yourself. We live in a 24/7 culture that is overly focused on multi-tasking and producing. Most of us were never taught that being is just as important as doing. Slow down. Take time to really soak up life.

Author:  From Chapter Twelve, “Being Present and Remembering What Really Matters” in The Mother’s Guide to Self- Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life by Renee Peterson Trudeau. Visit www.reneetrudeau.com to start/join a self-renewal circle using the Guide, receive monthly self-renewal tips or order a book. Trudeau is nationally-recognized career/life-balance coach and president of Austin-based Career Strategists.

Allison Allen is Founder of WomenBloom, a web community inspiring and supporting women to make the most of midlife.