Two of my favourite slogans are Nike’s ‘Just do it’ and the one seen on many a Land Rover; ‘One life, live it’, although I saw an alternative, reading; ‘One wife, livid’ which made me smile. I appreciate anything that makes me smile but my appreciation of the other slogans pertains to the power of their gentle encouragement and recognition of the here and now as a really important point of focus.

Whatever went before, we move on, or not, from the here and now and while it may not be to our liking, it gives us the point from which to measure what it will require to make us closer to something better. We may or may not have, or want help and, either way, it can be difficult to find the motivating factor that could push us to towards achieving our required outcome. It’s in there but it must be found and found in time.

It can appear lost and not surprisingly so. We may be locked in aspirations that are no longer for us, missing out on the subtle messages around us pointing to something that may be even better for us – now and here.

Here and now, in Scotland, we may have division or we may have a decision from which to make progress in building hope for the future by accepting the outcome of the referendum and beginning to engage in productive conversation. Making life the best it can be now makes the next step to something even better, more feasible. Life creates a few slip-backs but these can give us a necessary pause for thought.

While I’ve been affected, in recent times, by several people who have not had my best interests at heart, there have also been strangers and loved ones whose presence and encouragement has so much more depth and meaning than the rest put together.

The time that matters the most is here and now and my attention to this was spiked at the weekend as I toured the Highgate Cemetery and saw the splendour of some of the monuments to the memory of so many great and not-so-great people. Whatever they were they all met the same end and in time, even the most famous will fade from mind. That’s the only thing anyone can really ever be sure about.

I’ve learned about focusing on the present using Mindfulness over the past year, as a means of calming myself and coping with my reaction to tough events. It seemed familiar to me. It sat with much that I have already done, reflecting on conversations, thoughts and events, then ‘coming to’ and realising where I am, after a moment away. And it would, it’s an innate thing, repackaged. Look back in time to the long established teaching of Yoga Nidra to verify this.

I enjoyed my weekend away for many reasons. It’s good to get away, from time to time. It can bring the fresh perspective needed to get the best from what is here, and what is now. Also, though, I have a day less to achieve and enjoy my goals, so rather than give up, I need to get on with it; just do it, my one life – live it, here and now.