“Another Day, Another _________________.”
Before going to work, my mom would often say, “Another Day, Another Dollar.”
Though she technically is correct, I’d like to think that “another day” brings with it MORE than just another dollar and that our existence in life goes beyond living to make another dollar.
See friends, TODAY is a day like no other.
It is the one and only. Yet somehow, most people treat it like just another day.
I am guilty of this on occasion…one that I try to keep as infrequent as possible.
The gift of today is in the present.
It is not about tomorrow or about the things of yesterday.
The gift of life is in the present.
How many of us work, save, and live for tomorrow? What is it about the present that we discount (discount=reduction, thus when we discount the present, we are reducing its value)?
What would it take for us to value the present (moment)?
One of my mentors (@RealJohnGray) said it best, “Though I’ve been married for three years, I have really been married just for today. For today is all we have. And for as long as I am awake, I will give everything I have to my wife, my kids, my ministry….”
Today is indeed all you and I have. Life is about saying, “I do” to every Today that you are blessed with.
Pope John XXIII (affectionately nicknamed the “Good Pope”) had a daily decalogue which is an inspiration to all of us on how to increase the value of Today and enjoy the gift of the present.
1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.
2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.
3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.
4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.
5. Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.
6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.
7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.
8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.
9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.
*To download a printable copy of the Daily Decalogue by Pope John XXIII, click daily decalogue
Ladies & Gents, “Another day, Another….present.”
Note: While looking for this decalogue, I happily and gratefully came across it on the website of the amazing @gretchenrubin of “The Happiness Project.” To check out what Gretchen is up to, click here
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