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It's
fine to work toward future goals, but don't forget that
today will never come again. You have only
twenty-four hours to enjoy it.
Some
people put life on hold while striving for their
dreams. At first their theme song is, "After I
attain ______, then I'll be happy." Then,
later, after the success of attaining pales, the regrets
are felt. "Why didn't I take time to plant a
garden?" (or play with my children, visit old
friends, be kinder to my partner, relax, go to the movies,
go hiking?).
Instead
of waiting to be an old lady to wear purple, wear it
now. Instead of waiting for retirement to live in a
beautiful place, consider finding a way to get there
now. When we live our lives in accordance with our
dreams, it becomes easy to cheer for other people doing
so. When we don't, it's easy to be sour grapes,
unsupportive, or jealous when others break free and follow
their heart's desire.
Recently
I received a letter from my former Minneapolis
neighbors. "We've put our house up for
sale," it read. "We came home from the
country and said, 'No more!' We don't want to live
in the city so we're going to leave. We're looking
at a small town in Colorado with sunny days, mild winters,
and we're talking it over with our teenage
children." The energy and joy jumped off the
page. I could share their happiness because I knew
how much I enjoyed my move to the mountains.
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I sent
back a postcard that said, "Great! Wow!
You did it and I'm glad." There was a time in
my life when, because I wasn't living where I wanted to
be, I would have felt a tinge of jealousy and could not
have been so happy for them.
So
if you feel as if your life is somewhere out there as
opposed to right here, stop and ask yourself, really ask
yourself:
*
What is missing in my life?
* What have I put on hold?
* What am I waiting for?
* What would really fill my heart and make me happy?
* What would I regret if I died tomorrow?
Though
you may not die tomorrow, the saddest death is walking
around like a robot, cut off from the magic of today--from
love, from beauty, from being where you want to be.
And
remember, if all life is sacred, then today is
sacred. Ask yourself, What am I doing to feel joy today?
A wonderful way to start the day is to bless it:
Blessings
on this day, may I make it special in some way.
Blessings on my life, may I treat it with love and care.
Blessings on all people, may I see the goodness in
everyone.
Blessings on nature, may I notice its beauty and wonder.
Blessings on the truth, may it be my constant companion.
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