Only for Today

I am a firm believer in taking life one day at a time. By nature, I think way too much. Or, more accurately, I over-think the small, insignificant matters of life. I get ahead of myself and worry about all that is beyond my control, wondering how I am going to handle x,y, and z. Within the past year, given certain circumstances, I have had to remind myself to focus only on today, and let tomorrow take care of itself. More importantly, I need to remind myself that, ultimately, God will take care of all my todays and tomorrows. That's why I was immediately drawn to this on Elizabeth's site:

Only for Today
Decalogue for Daily Living

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5. Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure no one notices.

8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life. Bl. Pope John XXIII

I have been meaning, since the beginning of Lent, to print this up and put it somewhere prominent so that I may remember to read it at the start of each day (and then again during the day when certain, inevitable challenges come up). I haven't done it yet. But I will. Holy Week is coming up. And better late than never, I say. Beyond Easter, maybe this will gain a spot of permanence in my home, as its message isn't seasonal, but life-long. I need help remembering to live in "today" mode.

How's that saying, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why its called the present."

Maybe this decalogue will be like my thank you note to God for my gift.

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