I went to a restaurant to get a bite. After sitting down, the server pointed to a QR code taped to my table and explained that was how I could access the menu. I asked politely if they had a paper menu, as the print was so small using the QR code. No, she said, we don’t do that anymore. So I guess if you can’t use the QR code, you have to make an educated guess on what you want and hope it’s on the menu. Remember when a printed menu was part of the dining experience?

That was then, this is now.

When I first learned to drive, I remember paying 99 cents a gallon for gas. I filled up yesterday. It was $4.79 a gallon. Filling my tank for two weeks of work is equivalent to one day of my son’s pay. Not long ago, that same amount of money would have lasted five weeks.

That was then, this is now.

Growing up, we would stay out until “just dark” and run around the neighborhoods, ride our bikes everywhere, sell Girl Scout cookies door to door and even play in the dirt (gasp)! Now, the majority of kids are gaming, limiting a lot of physical activities, rarely riding a bike and quite frankly—who goes door to door as a kid anymore? We are terrified of someone doing something to our kids. Remember when we felt safe? Remember when we let kids be kids?

That was then, this is now.

When I was a junior in high school, there was this new class called “computer.” It was this huge machine that had incredible capabilities. We only got to use it during the class time and it was really hard to get into that class. Now, the majority of people have a computer. In fact, it may even be small and portable and can do so much more than the one I remember from school. What was designed to help our workflow, manage data and more has also become a door to things we never even thought about. What was meant for good has also become something that has caused destruction in so many lives.

That was then, this is now.

When we moved to a new location as a family, I remember the neighbors bringing over a hot meal and lots of baked goods. It felt good to be welcomed to the community and even better to the people on our block. When we were in our previous home, I took a hot meal and goodies to the new neighbor. They looked at me like I was nuts. It was almost as if I could read their mind—is this laced with something? Safe to eat?

That was then, this is now.

I could go on and on. It’s as if reminiscing is bringing back great memories and also prompting me to think about how much things have changed. Change isn’t bad. But it isn’t always good, either. I don’t think there’s an absolute. At times, progress moves us forward. At times it holds us back. What I also know is that change is constant. We can’t live in the past. We also can’t live in the future. We have right now. This moment. Dwelling on the “then” does not serve. It can inform the future and yet so often we get stuck in the trap of “when I was a kid…” You know the stories: walked a mile in 50 below weather to school, etc.

I find myself so often caught on this spectrum of then, now, and future. Quite frankly, I feel like I’m often missing the now. Today, I choose to be more intentional about the now.

How about you? What is your now?