Many a times I lived in the past, regretting mistakes, wishing circumstances had come out differently. Wanting to relive it and make different choices. And feeling frustrated that I couldn’t.
There are times I lived in the future dreaming of what I’d like my life to be like. Setting goals that would bring me satisfaction or event that would bring me happiness.
Yet, as a result, I was often unhappy in the present. Happiness proved elusive.
Because I couldn’t relive the past and the future was always just out of reach. Also, often when I reached the future event, that I thought would bring me happiness, I found it was a mirage and it evaporated in the light of today.
A lesson that I learned along the way and, frankly, I still keep learning is that the only day I have to be happy is living in the present. So I need to be happy in the moments of now. And I purposefully choose to.
In the morning and throughout the day I remind myself of all the blessings I have and give thanks for them.
If I think about past mistakes, I remind myself that they are past and I can learn from them.
When I think about the future I remind myself that today was yesterday’s future and to be happy in it as I planned to.
I try to enjoy each moment.
The sun rise over the forest and the sun set over the bay. We can hear birds singing in the park and see clouds floating in the sky.
Listen to the laughter of young children playing and the love of our family and friends.
The gift of starting a family and decades of marriage life together, not forgetting the ups and down.
Good health to enjoy and a good night sleep to refresh.
Enough successes to feel satisfied and puzzles to stay engaged.
When I wake up in the morning I say, “Today is the day The Universe created for me, I’m going to put on joy and be happy in it.”
And then surprisingly, it’s not a mirage and I am.
"You can have your best day living in the present only when you choose to."
