Today inspiration struck (as it is wont to do) in my shower. I tend to spend a lot of time doing a wibbly-wobbly timey-whimey hula dance between What Could Have Been and What May Be. So this year, 2016, will be "The Year of Now."
The Year of Now, you ask? Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
N: Never Dwell On The Past-
I have a lot of problems with coulda, woulda, shouldas. I endlessly mull over what I should have said or could have done, etc. It serves no purpose other than to drive me nuts and worsen my TMJ. The past is over. Take a glance back now and then to remember the lessons, but don't focus on it.
And no capes!
O: Own Today-
Today is all I have and it deserves my full attention and energy. Today I will own my mistakes, my successes, my body, my style, and my opinions. I will weigh them out and make sure they are genuine and not based upon what I feel others want or need to perceive about me. I will ask myself, "Why are you doing this? Is this useful? Is it worthy of your precious time? Is this something you truly desire to do or is it fueled by a desire to be viewed a certain way?" If I can trim off the Life-fat of everyone else's expectations, I can get down to the business of using what I have been given to do what I need to do.
Unfortunately, my Life-fat is not that cute.
W: Worry Less About Tomorrow-
This seems like a no-brainer, but for most human beings, it's incredibly hard to do. We seem to feel like if we think about the future hard enough and long enough, we can form some sort of fool-proof plan for any situation that comes along. We lie awake in bed at night, dreaming up millions of scenarios that could happen and what we will do in said scenarios. Truth is, we have very little, if any control over what happens in the next moment.
I remember a song from elementary school that went something like:
Don't you worry 'bout tomorrow 'cause tomorrow doesn't come until tomorrow...
I'm a long way from elementary school, and now the days pass by in a blur. Why should I waste any moment of today preoccupied with what may or may not happen tomorrow? There is nothing I can do about tomorrow except chill and have faith that God's already there. I have a life today with family and friends and jobs and opportunities. Tomorrow they may be gone. Best savor them in the here and now.
Out of the mouths of babes... and tigers.
So there's my big, sparkly, neon-flashing 2016 slogan. Ta-dah! Maybe it's simplistic for some people, but for me it could possibly be life-changing. What will happen when I stop double-dutching between the past and the future and just live moment by moment today? It's the slow path, according to The Doctor, but that's quite fine by me.
Or for people with one heart, no time machine, and no power to regenerate.
2016: The Year of Now. That has a nice ring to it. I'm up for its challenge.
Live big, live brave.
Live now.
*I am awarding myself Nerdiest Blog Post Ever for this one. How many fandom references can you spot?
2 comments:
I love this post so much it feels like you are writing to me. I am so bad at flip flopping between past regrets and future stressing that I often forget to focus on and enjoy where I'm at right NOW. Thank you for sharing this!
You are so welcome! It's hard to let go of the past and live in the moment, but it's the only way to truly enjoy life. Best of luck and blessings to you in the new year. Carpe diem!
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