Just For Today

Venturing away from my usual style of posting I decided to share something I read the other day. The background I give may be a tad personal, but I suppose that's part of the reason people blog...to share their insights, etc. with others.

Regardless, as some of you know, I tend to be an overactive worrier. My wife claims I hide it well, though I'm not so sure whether she just says this to keep me from having something else that worries me. I think the biggest problem I have is that I continue to see all that I want to accomplish in life and feel as though I'm still light years away. It can seem silly, even to me, given how many blessings I have in my life. Nevertheless it is something that can be difficult for me.

So I'm reading a book by Dale Carnegie that focuses on tips for worrying less. (Now don't you go worrying about me; I'm mostly reading it because I've enjoyed other books by Mr. Carnegie). In the book he cites this verse and I think it is pretty powerful so I thought I would share it with you all. It rings true to me that if I only think (worry) about things a day at a time it seems so much more manageable.

Just For Today!

1. Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.
2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.
3. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.
4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways; I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don't want to do as William James suggests, just for exercise.
6. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.
7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests, hurry and indecision.
9. Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. In this half hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.
10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

Who knows maybe someone else who reads this blog could use this advice (though maybe not all ten points apply to everyone) but I liked the perspective it gave me when I read it. Its sorta like they say...the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. The only way to live a great life is one day at a time.

And never fear, when next I blog I will return to my usual style and format. Til then...