"Nothing is worth more than this day...

...You cannot relive yesterday. Tomorrow is still beyond your reach." Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe Gathering all our emotions, thoughts and energy and concentrating them in the ‘Now” is not an easy task. It seems to be human nature to brood over the past and worry about the future. Yet philosophers down the centuries have believed that living in the moment is the secret to happiness. Letting go of the past is a liberating idea. To start each day afresh with nothing occupying our minds but breakfast is certainly appealing. Is it the best way to live a life? Surely there are lessons to be learnt from past failings, and good memories are the basis of enduring relationships. Dealing with the past requires a method of filtering out the guilt, shame, anger, and sorrow, leaving only wisdom, however painfully gained, and joy. Joy is a rare and precious commodity. The memory of past joy warms us when the present is cold and unfriendly. Planning for the future is prudent but should not stop the pleasure and satisfaction of today. We set goals, put plans in place and work toward them. But, as Goethe said, “tomorrow is beyond our reach”. The future unfolds and we must make the most of it. The problem is, we often tend to over-think and over-plan until we become anxious and agitated, and even neurotic. So we should plan calmly and not get too excited. We should be flexible and versatile, understanding that we may need to change or modify our plans as we go along. Rules for living in the present:  Accept that you cannot change the past.  Don’t dwell on hurt feelings, forgive others, move on  Mistakes happen - remember the lesson, forgive yourself the mistake  Take a moment each morning to count your blessings  Expect change and adapt to it  Live today well