When our attention is swept away by memories, we place ourselves in a non-existent past. When we focus our attention on our hopes and dreams, we direct ourselves toward a future that does not yet exist. In both cases, our consciousness takes illusory and non-existent directions and we live in a dream. Reality, or what is, takes place only in the now. In order to live in reality, our consciousness must be focused on the present place and moment. By sitting down and directing our attention fully to the stamp in front of us, the stamp is serving as an anchor to connect us to reality.