Today is the Greatest…
This post is inspired by something that happened to me about week before Laura died. I intend to tell the story in a future post…but for now I’d like to respectfully submit what I learned from that “something.”
Who: YOU
What: Live This Day.
Today is part of your Thirty Seconds…”the first day of the rest of your life”…so don’t blow it. Don’t miss it. Don’t wish the work day away so you can get to happy hour quicker. (Really? Only 1 happy hour out of the whole day? That sucks. Maybe it should be called happier hour. Even then…just an hour?)
When: Right Now…Today. I think I just said that…
Where: Where are you NOW?
“Wherever you go…there you are.” Me and a buddy of mine used to laugh at that saying because it was so obvious back then. Where else can you be? Little did I know that someday I’d spend big chunks of time day dreaming about the places I’d rather be…or the things I’d like to have…instead of fully being where I was standing.
Bring your mind back inside your head for a little while. It’s not all bad where you are…but you’ll never see the good things if you’re looking somewhere else. Maybe just take a moment to review the good stuff that is around you…and in you…and because of you.
Why: It’s the only day you really have.
All the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years that brought you here today are gone…forever. You are NOT where you were…nor can you be except in thought. (And if you are there…you can’t be here. I’m starting to sound like Dr. Seuss…)
The same goes for tomorrow and all the small increments of time that will add up to your future. Don’t try to do tomorrow’s work today…or begin living a future life that hasn’t arrived yet. (Cue pleading voice:)
Don’t you see? If today zips by without you’re fully being in it you might miss something good (though subtle) that’s trying to get in.
Live TODAY well. Be here…NOW. Use past lessons to guide you in the decisions you make…TODAY. (Do you really want to go to happier hour? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Go with your gut on that one. And I don’t mean your stomach. Free wings will win every time…)
Andy – its an awesome way for me to start my day. Thanks for being their to put me into perspective. Some days you really remind me of of Leo from ZenHabits… which is an awesome blog too. I’m going to make today better man. Thanks.
Well that makes my day too, Seth! I’ve been to Zen Habits. I agree…it’s an awesome blog. Thanks for the comment…I love getting them. Here’s to a better day…
Hey Andy,
Just “shared” this on my FB Page. Great reminder that I need often. I agree with it, I just get lost so easily in yesterday and tomorrow.
Right now there are these really happy birds hanging out in my yard singing to each other as they play around in the birdbath. I would have not noticed that if I had not read your blog just now.
It’s kind of amazing isn’t it? It doesn’t solve our problems in an instant…but I think the more we do that…be present and see the good things that surround us…the more those problems begin to solve themselves. Thanks Barbara…
….I am at my best, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, when I am in present moment….What works for me to be fully present is to get out of my head and into my heart. In my heartspace I experience life, beauty, authenticity. My head my thoughts can overpower, thinking too much, what was and what may come, as you said so well Andy. And then you lose sight of what you have….
A speaker I had the pleasure of listening to yesterday said:
“You don’t hear music with your ears, you hear with your heart. You don’t see colors with your eyes, you see with your heart.” The heart is the seat of the soul. This is where we can experience the moment, and connect with not only self but others as well, both in pleasure and pain. When I put myself inside myself, connect within, I am in the moment.
Absolutely LOVE this Andy: ” Only 1 happy hour out of the whole day? That sucks. Maybe it should be called happier hour. Even then…just an hour?” speaks volumes…….
Another insightful post…Thanks Andy, you are a gifted and wise writer…..
That’s so true…hearing and seeing with our hearts. It’s hard for a guy to say something like that…but it’s true. I’m learning that…or realizing it anyway. Thanks, Meg! It’s always so nice to see your comments here. Have a great…great day!
Ahh, Andy! You made my day with this one. Just when I needed reminding to live fully, here comes Andy with his great insight. Thanks.
Ahh, Joni! That’s what I love to hear…I’ll say it again and again. It makes me happy to know that. Thank you for telling me…
On which blog should I leave my comment? You have so many. Either way, this is what I wanted to say:
My sincere sympathy and compassion goes out to you and your children. I will be sending you strenght and an e-mail soon. For now, live day by day, moment by moment and let the flow decide direction. There is no need to go against the stream, only to build a ship, stable and strong that will carry you along the journey.
Take care of each other, ok?
This whole thing has been a work in progress and I don’t doubt there are some old blogs out there I should take down. Sorry for the confusion. (THIS is the one BTW…) Day by day…yes…
I really thought about what you wrote. I mean REALLY. And guess what…. in the end it all turns out okay…. i guess..
Kay…I think one of our issues is figuring out that there is not really an “in the end.” For my whole life I looked for an end point…and it always looked like a place where I could say, “Now I’m happy.” The problem is the times I reached that end point…it wasn’t as great as I thought…and then I would think…”OK…now I’m sort of here…and it’s not what I thought…so I think if I just have such-and-such in addition to this…THEN I’ll be good.”
It’s a spiral. (Really…how many rock stars write songs about the angst of being a rock star. It was their dream…they get it…and then talk about the hardships. Please…)
I guess what I’m saying is that if we can see what we have right now…notice it…pay some attention to it…this moment isn’t as heavy as we thought it was…even though it’s not maybe where we want to be.
Of course if you’re on cloud 9 well…enjoy it. Really…don’t let it be lost because you’re worrying about it going away. Jeez the mind is tricky thing.
Thanks so much for reading and REALLY thinking about what I wrote. (For what it’s worth…yes…it is all okay…)
A
very cool andy, very cool.
and your new profile picture? you look totally different! great pic!
As usual Agnes I love getting your comments. Try as I might I can’t seem to write in a light hearted way…but that’s how I write so there you are. (Unlike yours which are short and sweet and say a lot in the process…love ‘em.)
As for the picture…I guess I look more like that than anything else. I’m really not all that glum or serious much of the time. (Truth be told I’m a bit of smart *ss…)
Thanks Agnes!