Yesterday is gone.
There is nothing we can do about yesterday. We can reminiscence about history. We can wax poetic about successes, ours and those of others. Or we can mourn our wretched failures, wallow in the depth of despair about our mistakes, and drudge up, for the misery of all, the miserable misdeeds of others. Yet, despite it all, yesterday is still gone.
Tomorrow has not yet come.
Just you wait for tomorrow. I’m telling you, it’s going to be so darn good! Or maybe so darn bad… or perhaps just plain boring, or fun, or miserable, or happy. Tomorrow is in the future, and while we do our best to influence tomorrow, one way or the other, there really is nothing we can do about it. Thus, despite it all tomorrow has not yet come.
We have only today.
This all brings us to today, the only time we really have. Today does not exist in our yesterday, nor does it live in our tomorrow. It exists and lives only in the present. The very moment, even the mere second and minute, truly is all we have. What we have today, whether harsh or pleasant, is what we have. American Journalist Art Buchwald summed it up well. “Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times,” he said, “it is the only time we have.”
Let us begin.
If “yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not yet come, [and] we only have today,” as Mother Teresa has counseled, then “Let us begin.” Let us begin today. Let us begin with what we have. Let us take every ounce of faith, fortitude, and courage within our soul and simply move forward. That’s all it takes to live in the moment. Louis L’Amour, foremost storyteller of the American West, put it this way: “Few of us ever live in the present. We are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone.”
Last week we explored the role of self-confidence in achieving our goals. Perhaps, as we look inside ourselves, we wonder if we even have enough faith and self-confidence to start. May I be bold enough to suggest that no matter what yesterday was like, no matter what tomorrow may hold in store, if you will simply put one foot in front of the other, you’ll soon be moving forward walking across the floor.
Putting one foot in the front of the other even worked for the Winter Warlock. The meanest and most despicable warlock of all, as told in the story Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Winter captures Kris Kringle after his maiden voyage to Sombertown with a load of elf-made toys. But Kris, perhaps inspired by his own journey forward, melts the Warlock’s “ice heart” with a gift of a toy train. Then he gives him the greatest gift of all, the gift of hope, as he teaches the Warlock “changing from bad to good is as easy as taking your first step… putting one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking ‘cross the floor. Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door.”
It worked for the Warlock, one step at a time. It works for me, also one step and one day at a time. If you will take that one simple step forward, that one simple step to begin, I can promise you with the depth of experience that it will also work for you and you will soon be walking through the door to a life full of richness built around your innate ability to live today.
Let us begin!
Have a great Monday! Thanks for letting me share.
Les Patterson
p.s. Take 15 minutes today to briefly access where you’re at in one area of your life. Then begin to move forward.
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Les Patterson loves to share stories and the “Monday Morning Boost” is his way of sharing a story or two with family, friends, and clients. Les believes every person, business and organization has a story worth sharing. Since 1997 he has enjoyed finding compelling ways to share those stories through writing and producing radio commercials at the Cache Valley Media Group. Feedback and comments are welcome at [email protected]. ©2015, Les Patterson. All Rights Reserved.
at February 24, 2024 3:22 PM PST
Great post, Les! Thanks for sharing. I love the Mother Teresa quote; what a great thought for starting a brand new year!
