Carbonated Clarity

Have you ever had a moment when life literally splashes you in the face to get your attention? Recently, I found myself standing in my garage, completely lost in thought about my endless to-do list, when I absent-mindedly grabbed a pair of scissors to open a 12-pack carton of 7-Up. In my distracted state, I plunged the scissors directly into one of the cans.

The result? An explosive fountain of carbonated soda directly to my face.

Standing there – sticky, surprised, and suddenly very present – I couldn't help but laugh at the perfect metaphor that had just unfolded. This wasn't just about a ruined can of soda; it was a carbonated wake-up call about how I was moving through my day.

The Cost of Autopilot Living

That moment of "carbonated clarity" revealed something profound: I wasn't truly present. Like many ambitious women, I was physically doing one thing while my mind raced through a dozen others. The cost? A wasted beverage, wet clothes, and a sticky floor.

But what about the bigger costs in our lives when we operate on autopilot?

The career opportunities missed because we're too distracted to notice them. The meaningful conversations with loved ones we don't fully engage in. The creative inspirations that slip away because our minds are cluttered with tomorrow's worries.

After 50, these costs compound. We've accumulated wisdom and experience, yet often find ourselves rushing through precious moments as if we still have endless decades ahead.

The irony isn't lost on me that it took a literal splash in the face to bring me back to the present moment. But what if we could create that clarity without the mess?

Breaking the Distraction Cycle

Distraction isn't just annoying – it's expensive. When we're not fully engaged in what we're doing, we make mistakes, miss opportunities, and waste resources.

Think about how many times you've:

• Misplaced something because you weren't paying attention when you set it down

• Had to reread the same paragraph multiple times because your mind wandered

• Made an error that required twice the time to fix than it would have taken to do it right the first time

• Missed something important someone said because you were mentally elsewhere

For women over 50, the stakes are even higher. We're often at career peaks, juggling family responsibilities across generations, and trying to prioritize our own dreams that may have been on hold. We simply can't afford to waste our energy, time, or focus.

The Intentional Alternative

What if, instead of waiting for life to splash us with wake-up calls, we consciously chose intentional presence?

Intentional living isn't about doing more or being perfect. It's about bringing your full attention to what matters most in each moment. It's about recognizing when you're slipping into autopilot and gently guiding yourself back.

For me, that punctured soda can was a humbling reminder that no matter how much I think I can multitask, my best results come when I'm fully present with one thing at a time.

The beauty of presence is that it doesn't require more time – it transforms the quality of the time you already have. You don't need elaborate systems or extensive training. You simply need the awareness to notice when you're operating on autopilot and the commitment to bring yourself back.

From Splash to Sustainable Clarity

My sticky soda incident wasn't just embarrassing – it was illuminating. It revealed how easily I can slip into unconscious action, even in the simplest tasks. But more importantly, it reminded me that I always have the power to choose presence.

As women aging with power, we've earned the right to be fully present in our lives. We've shouldered responsibilities, managed crises, built careers, and nurtured others – often while putting our own awareness on the back burner.

Now is the time to reclaim that awareness. To move through our days with intention rather than inertia. To savor experiences rather than check them off lists. To create the clarity we need without waiting for life to splash us in the face.

The next time you find yourself rushing through a task or mentally juggling ten priorities at once, remember my carbonated wake-up call. Take a breath. Feel your hands. Notice your surroundings. And choose to be fully present in that singular moment.

After all, living with intention isn't just about avoiding spilled soda – it's about creating a life so rich and present that every moment, sticky or sublime, becomes part of your conscious, chosen experience.

About the Author

Dr. Diva Verdun, the Fierce Factor Expert and #1 transformative architect on aging, empowers women over 50 to seize their destiny and Age with Power™. Through her signature F.I.R.E.™ methodology and Fenom University, she ignites women's fierce potential to live life on their terms. Follow her on Facebook or Linkedin.