--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be present in your work because kids live…" description: "\"Be present in your work because kids live in the moment, so as soon as you're not in the present, you're not being authentic.\" — Kadir Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/kadir-nelson-41157_being-authentic_be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-liv_472396.jpg" --- # Be present in your work because kids live in the moment… ![“Be present in your work because kids live in the moment, so as soon as you're not in the present, you're not being authentic.” quote by Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/kadir-nelson-41157_being-authentic_be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-liv_472396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/kadir-nelson-41157_being-authentic_be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-liv_472396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/kadir-nelson-41157_being-authentic_be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-liv_472396.jpg) > “Be present in your work because kids live in the moment, so as soon as you're not in the present, you're not being authentic.” [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being fully engaged in your tasks mirrors children's natural presence, fostering authenticity and genuine connection. **In simple terms:** Stay focused to be authentic. Key Takeaway Practice mindful engagement. Themes mindfulness authenticity creativity parenting Mood reflective inspired Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - teaching - artistic work - parent‑child interaction - team meetings Key Concepts presence attention authentic living Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate present‑mindedness daily? - What moments reveal your authenticity? A Different Perspective Hard to maintain constant presence amid distractions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being authentic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-authentic/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-live-409431/) [Live in the moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-moment/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present/) [Present Authentic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-authentic-378827/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-kids/) ## Related quotes > [When you're able to be honest with yourself about who you are and finally can present your authentic true self to the world, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/when-you-re-able-to-be-honest-with-yourself-about-who-you-are-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [It's funny, my kids and I live together, and I have a lot of actor friends. 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We're quite bohemian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-singh/my-kids-and-i-live-like-three-fun-loving-hermits-we-re-quite-bohemian/) [Amrita Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-singh/) > [We are the crazy kids that live next door so like us or hate us we will not move :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-the-crazy-kids-that-live-next-door-so-like-us-or-hate-us-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think our kids live an extraordinarily different life than what I lived growing up. Pretty much everything about their life is different than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/i-think-our-kids-live-an-extraordinarily-different-life-than-what-i/) [Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/) > [Can I brush your hair?” she asked as she led the way, her disposition doing a 180 on a dime. Kids. Can’t live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/can-i-brush-your-hair-she-asked-as-she-led-the-way-her-disposition/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [I want kids to live through this character I've created. I want them to say that they are Kevin Abstract because they relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-abstract/i-want-kids-to-live-through-this-character-i-ve-created-i-want-them/) [Kevin Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-abstract/) > [You have to let kids live their own lives and make their mistakes, but it is difficult now because there are so many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-french/you-have-to-let-kids-live-their-own-lives-and-make-their-mistakes-but/) [Dawn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-french/) > [Kids live online, but love and support don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-germanotta/kids-live-online-but-love-and-support-don-t/) [Cynthia Germanotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-germanotta/) > [It's a privilege to have kids and not live your life in solitude. But we live in a child-hating culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ruhl/it-s-a-privilege-to-have-kids-and-not-live-your-life-in-solitude-but/) [Sarah Ruhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ruhl/) ## More by Kadir Nelson > [What's important about the artists we learn about in art history and see in all the art books is that they have somehow pushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/what-s-important-about-the-artists-we-learn-about-in-art-history-and/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) > [For me, each book is kind of like a silent film. If you were to remove the words and just look at the pictures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/for-me-each-book-is-kind-of-like-a-silent-film-if-you-were-to-remove/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) > [My uncle, who's an art teacher, took me under his wing and gave me a really strong foundation in art. I spent summers with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/my-uncle-who-s-an-art-teacher-took-me-under-his-wing-and-gave-me-a/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) > [I'm an artist by trade and an author by necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/i-m-an-artist-by-trade-and-an-author-by-necessity/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) > [As a kid, I drew cartoon characters and comic book heroes. Spiderman and the X-Men were my favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/as-a-kid-i-drew-cartoon-characters-and-comic-book-heroes-spiderman/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) > [When I look at American history and I look at what history means to me, I look at it as if it were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/when-i-look-at-american-history-and-i-look-at-what-history-means-to/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) > [My purpose is to create a mirror for the reader to see themselves, to create a light for people to see themselves in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/my-purpose-is-to-create-a-mirror-for-the-reader-to-see-themselves-to/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) > [Much of the message that I try to put across to students is that they have to figure out what they really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/much-of-the-message-that-i-try-to-put-across-to-students-is-that-they/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) > [I think it's important to have confidence, but then it's also important to try to try something new, to leave your comfort zone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/i-think-it-s-important-to-have-confidence-but-then-it-s-also/) [Kadir Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) [Explore all 10 Kadir Nelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/) ## More Being authentic quotes > [Success in TV-showmaking is just a matter of being authentic and doing the best you can, and you hope that people watch it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/success-in-tv-showmaking-is-just-a-matter-of-being-authentic-and/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Those who avoid the tough choices of life, live a life they never chose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/those-who-avoid-the-tough-choices-of-life-live-a-life-they-never-chose/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Give up being perfect for being authentic. Be who you are. Love who you are. Others will too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/give-up-being-perfect-for-being-authentic-be-who-you-are-love-who-you/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Don’t be afraid of being unique. It’s like being afraid of your best self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/don-t-be-afraid-of-being-unique-it-s-like-being-afraid-of-your-best/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Usually, there's a story I've told that leads up to why I'm singing the song. The whole concept of the show was about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/usually-there-s-a-story-i-ve-told-that-leads-up-to-why-i-m-singing/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [The practice of assertiveness: being authentic in our dealings with others; treating our values and persons with decent respect in social contexts; refusing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/the-practice-of-assertiveness-being-authentic-in-our-dealings-with/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/select-only-things-to-steal-from-that-speak-directly-to-your-soul/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [All I'm doing is being authentic and real and singing about the emotions I go through as a human being. I don't think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-evans/all-i-m-doing-is-being-authentic-and-real-and-singing-about-the/) [Anthony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-evans/) > [CONFIDENCE BOOSTER: Take pride in the things that make you stand out. Realize that you're better served by being authentic to yourself than by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-meade/confidence-booster-take-pride-in-the-things-that-make-you-stand-out/) [Robin Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-meade/) > [Onstage, it's all just a heightened and more elaborate version of me. When you're standing onstage, your adrenaline is going, your enthusiasm is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/onstage-it-s-all-just-a-heightened-and-more-elaborate-version-of-me/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [I don't think it's necessary to worry too much about being authentic. I think a picture taken on an iPhone and then filtered through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vanwyngarden/i-don-t-think-it-s-necessary-to-worry-too-much-about-being-authentic/) [Andrew VanWyngarden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vanwyngarden/) > [Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/honesty-and-transparency-make-you-vulnerable-be-honest-and/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/steal-from-anywhere-that-resonates-with-inspiration-or-fuels-your-2/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Authentic love does not devalue another human being. Authentic love does not silence, shame or abuse. If you are in a relationship with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-axtell/authentic-love-does-not-devalue-another-human-being-authentic-love/) [Brooke Axtell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-axtell/) > [Why try to be someone you're not? Life is hard enough without adding impersonation to the skills required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/why-try-to-be-someone-you-re-not-life-is-hard-enough-without-adding/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) [Browse all 28 Being authentic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-authentic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be present in your work because kids live in the moment, so as soon as you're not in the present, you're not being authentic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kadir Nelson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-live-in-the-moment-so-as-soon-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being authentic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-live-in-the-moment-so-as-soon-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/kadir-nelson-41157_being-authentic_be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-liv_472396.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/kadir-nelson-41157_being-authentic_be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-liv_472396.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/kadir-nelson-41157_being-authentic_be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-liv_472396.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be present in your work because kids live in the moment, so as soon as you're not in the present, you're not…” — Kadir Nelson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kadir Nelson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadir-nelson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be present in your work because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-live-in-the-moment-so-as-soon-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadir-nelson/be-present-in-your-work-because-kids-live-in-the-moment-so-as-soon-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```