Simply put, presence to the moment is like dropping water on a Chia Pet—a “toy” pet with actual grass on its back. When the flat grass is watered, it perks right up and stands on end, to resemble the pet’s fur.  

I am writing this reflection in New Mexico, a state I have never before explored. Out in the country from Santa Fe, which is translated as Holy Faith, I’m journaling in the New Mexican sun.

I am writing this reflection in New Mexico, a state I have never before explored. Out in the country from Santa Fe, which is translated as Holy Faith, I’m journaling in the New Mexican sun.

It was 1:00 am and we had just arrived at the hotel after a long and tiring drive. The lone night clerk took care of our very late registration. There were lots of details we needed to know, such as how and where to park, if the parking ticket stayed in the car or not, and of course how to get to our room.

Yesterday, I moved my patronage to a new pharmacy because my old one had become too crowded and busy. Refreshingly, this new drugstore was as quiet as a library, just as I was told it would be. There was only one customer at the prescription counter, so I waited my turn to address the lady behind the counter whose eyes never left the computer screen in front of her. Without looking at me, she said "May I help you?" I said to her, “May I speak with you for a moment, please?” With her eyes still on the screen, she said, "Yes." Then I thought to myself, "Am I going to have to talk to the back of a computer screen if I use this drugstore?”

Once, several years ago, at an International Enneagram Association conference in San Francisco, I attended one of its many informative workshops. Like so many workshops, in the one I chose, after the lecture, there were breakout discussion groups. The discussion group in which I was placed had three people. One of the people in my group—a nice young woman, was concentrating very hard on what I and the other group members were saying. She leaned forward when we spoke and she spoke with great intensity. I observed that her eyes were intently looking into the group members' eyes. But there was one other thing that I noticed about this dear soul. She appeared to be exhausted.

In making the pivotal shift from ego to soul, all nine of the Enneagram energies require us to live in the now. The now is also called the present moment.