We are creatures of the moment; we live from one little space to

In the vast unfolding of existence, where moments slip through our fingers like grains of sand, the words of William Dean Howells remind us of a truth both humbling and profound: “We are creatures of the moment; we live from one little space to another, and only one interest at a time fills these.” These words speak to the very nature of our being, to the ephemeral dance we engage in as we navigate the flow of time. We are bound by the present, and it is in this fleeting, precious instant that our lives take shape, one thought, one action, one space at a time. Howells acknowledges the fragility of human life and the tendency to focus on a single point, a single interest, at any given time, for it is in these spaces that we find both our purpose and our struggle.

The ancients understood well the nature of time and the human condition. The Greeks, in their philosophical traditions, often spoke of the present moment as the only true reality. Heraclitus, the philosopher of change, believed that the only constant in life is change, and that life’s essence is to be found in the flow of moments rather than in the pursuit of lasting stability. His famous saying, “You cannot step into the same river twice,” highlights the ever-changing nature of existence. Like Howells, Heraclitus understood that we, as humans, are constantly moving from one moment to the next, filled by the current interest that occupies us. The past is gone, and the future is uncertain; all we truly possess is the fleeting now, the present space in which we stand.

This focus on the present is not merely an intellectual exercise, but a deep truth about the human experience. In the Bhagavad Gita, the great Indian scripture, Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to focus on his duty, his present action, without attachment to the results. The Gita speaks of living fully in the moment, where each action, no matter how small or large, carries with it a sense of purpose and meaning. Krishna urges that we focus on what we can control, which is the present space and the interest we choose to occupy at any given moment. This resonates deeply with Howells' observation: we live from one space to another, and it is the interest of the moment that gives shape to our lives.

Let us consider the story of Alexander the Great, whose ambitions were so vast and sweeping that they led him to conquer much of the known world. Yet, despite his grand designs, Alexander's life was largely defined by moments—each battle, each decision, each challenge was a new space in which his interest was fully invested. He could not live in the past glories of his victories, nor could he dwell on the uncertainties of what lay ahead. He was a creature of the moment, completely absorbed by the task at hand. Even the ancient historians who wrote about him, like Arrian, spoke of his intense focus on each step in his journey. In this way, Alexander embodied the very essence of Howells’ observation: even the most powerful of men, with the grandest of ambitions, must live in the present, one space at a time, each moment consumed by the interest of the moment.

The nature of interest is also crucial to understanding the human condition. Howells implies that as we move through life, we are constantly drawn into different interests, each taking up the space of our attention and energy. These interests are the forces that guide our actions, whether it is the pursuit of wealth, the search for wisdom, the desire for love, or the need for achievement. In our modern world, we can see this in the way individuals pour their energy into various passions and pursuits, often becoming consumed by one interest at a time. The lesson here is that these interests, though temporary, shape our identity and our journey. The danger, however, lies in allowing our interests to define us entirely, to the exclusion of the richness of the whole of existence.

Consider the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who in his works, captured the fleeting nature of the present moment. He writes about the experience of being, where each moment is not just an event, but an entire world unto itself. Rilke’s reflections mirror Howells’ observation that our lives are lived in small spaces, each one marked by a singular interest, whether it is the quest for truth or the contemplation of love. Rilke invites us to recognize that each moment holds infinite depth, and it is in living fully within these spaces that we come to understand the fullness of life itself.

The lesson we must take from Howells is one of awareness and acceptance. We must learn to live in the present, to honor the space we occupy, even as we acknowledge that the future remains out of reach. It is in the moments we are living now that we can find meaning, purpose, and direction. The task is not to hold onto the past or become obsessed with the future, but to fully engage with the interest that fills our current space. Just as the ancients taught, we must live with the understanding that life is a flow of moments, and each one is a new opportunity for growth, reflection, and action. To truly live is to be present, to be fully involved in each moment, and to embrace the space that surrounds us without looking too far ahead or behind.

Therefore, let us live fully in the spaces we are given, embracing the interests of the present moment. Whether these moments are filled with joy, sorrow, challenge, or peace, let us recognize their significance in shaping the story of our lives. The truth that Howells offers is one that calls us to a deeper awareness—that life, in all its fleeting beauty, is lived one space at a time. And in each space, we find not just a fragment of time, but the whole of existence, waiting to be understood and embraced. Let us not rush through life, but savor each moment, for it is in the present that we find our greatest truths.