“Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever”
- Horace Mann
Each moment is precious, it only exists for that moment and then it is gone, forever, never to be again. So many of us squander our time. We squander our time on things that we know are not serving us or the universe in which we live.
Our time here on earth is gone in a blink of an eye. I am sure that if you sit and reflect on your life so far, you will understand how fast it goes by. “Seems just like yesterday when …”
This life does pass so very fast, and it seems to pass faster all of the time. We really don’t have time to squander on being angry, resentful or waiting for that one thing to happen that will bring untold happiness into our life! Our time is simply too precious.
I will not sit here and judge what is not good use of your time. This is something that must be assessed by each of us. Sometimes the best use of your time may be sitting in silence doing nothing, sometimes it may be time to be entertained, other times it is taking care of the things you need to take care of in the course of a normal day. The point is only you know what is the best use of your time. Only you know if you are squandering your time away. Of course, this takes being very honest with yourself.
The following are some suggested steps that you can use today to help ensure that you live fully in the short time that you are here:
1. In the morning map out your day:
– what do I need to do today?
– what will I allow myself to focus on today?
– who will I touch today?
– what affect will I have on the people I touch today?
- how can I have a positive impact on the people I will touch today?
– Is what I have planned today, the best possible use of my time and energy?
2. I will not waste time in a worried state today!
3. I will not waste time being angry today!
4. I will not waste time being resentful today!
5. I will live in today.
6. I will live in and enjoy each moment.
7. I will recognize that the present is all I have and I will treat it as a “present”.
8. I will embrace and send love to all of the people in my life today as if I won’t have another day to do so, because I understand that tomorrow is not promised to anyone.
9. I will be fully engaged as a citizen of this world and the Universe today.
10. I will not get lost in the future and pin my happiness on events yet to come, I will embrace today and find happiness within myself.
Wake up, be aware as of this moment, realize that all that is today, will be gone in a blink of an eye. Be one who knows at the end of this human life that you lived fully and have no regrets on how you spent your time here on earth.
Posted by Brian on March 19, 2007 at 8:16 pm
If only every single person followed these suggestions every morning, the world would be transformed instantly.
I need reminders like yours as often as possible. Staying in the moment is the most difficult thing to do, but essential for peace of mind.
I will take your advice…today I choose to be at peace.
Posted by Loving Annie on March 19, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Beautiful post ToBeMe… Living in the present is so very very important… Time indeed goes by in the blink of an eye…
I have wasted so much of it on living in the past an worrying about the future… Staying in the NOW brings a measure of peace with it, and the appreciation of what is…
Blessings to you…
Posted by knightofswords on March 19, 2007 at 9:24 pm
As were reminded in the movie “The Secret,” our emotions will guide us through everything we do; I suspect our use of time is one of those. Are we happy and fulfilled or are we bored and depressed? And are we living in the moment?
Posted by Desiree on March 19, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Wonderful Advice Mark for a wonderful day! You are so right about this and life is too short not to heed your wise advice!
Posted by tobeme on March 19, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Brian,
Great choice!
Glad that you found this article to be a good reminder.
Your choices have the power to make the world a better place.
Posted by tobeme on March 19, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Loving Annie,
Yes, living in the present will bring you much peach and relieve you from tons of anxiety.
Note, do not fret about the past, no time is truly wasted and it does not serve you to worry about what has gone before. Live in the now and be free of your past.
Posted by tobeme on March 19, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Knightofswords,
It depends on where those emotions originate, are they soul based or ego based. The ego based emotions can and often do lead you astray.
Thanks for adding your thoughts!
Posted by tobeme on March 19, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Desiree,
Thank-you for the comments! Your thoughts are always appreciated.
Posted by Puzzled Woeman on March 20, 2007 at 1:23 am
Two years of my life went down the drain when I was in the Depression. I slept way too much and didn’t hardly participate in anything or go anywhere! Looking back, it seems to have gone so fast and I’m going to try to do the best I can to make the most of the rest of my life here on earth. Now that I’ve found The Happy Spot, I can continue with my life and I will try to avoid making the same mistakes I made in the past! Fear, regret, resentment and other negative emotions are a waste of energy!
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 1:26 am
Puzzled Woeman,
I am glad to hear that your beleive that you are on a better path now than you were before. So true, getting lost in negative emotions is a waste of energy. Thanks so much for adding your thoughts to this conversation.
Posted by Omni on March 20, 2007 at 2:44 am
Technology overload is the big one I’ve gotta watch in this category; if I hadn’t gritted my teeth and shut down the instant messengers, stopped emailing virtual strangers that I’d met online and given up posting about trivia on forums, I’d still be spending every waking hour at the computer, not doing anything that actually meant anything to me.
Another good post!!
Posted by maria on March 20, 2007 at 5:49 am
Once again, coming to your blog brings me serenity. There is great power in the knowledge that in our own simple way we can promote change, health and healing. I pray with great energy to the universe to enhance my ability to reach this realm. And embrace the simple blessing that I have found a place for solace, your site.
I have passed it on to some who would get it and embrace it.
Thank you for your generosity
Posted by Matty on March 20, 2007 at 6:28 am
Great post Mark. As you get older you tend to go to so many more funerals than you do baptisms, and realize how quickly life passes…and some of us don’t get to be 80. Last night I heard that a friend of mine who is only 42 has 2 or 3 weeks left. She is dying of cancer. None of us know when we will make our final exit, we have to live in the ‘now’.
We have just lost 2 days in our week….yesterday is gone, and so is tomorrow. Have a wonderful day!
Posted by Christopher Wondra on March 20, 2007 at 6:38 am
So many grateful comments. You really do a great service here.
Thanks for the reminder Mark.
When I was doing my affirmations religiously (which I should still do), I made up this one:
“I lick the sweet from the corners of every moment.”
It really helped to get my head in the right place.
Thanks again,
Chris
Posted by Faith on March 20, 2007 at 11:35 am
Mark,
Great post! I really wonder how you get all these wonderful ideas to post! Time really do fly, and before you know it, another year has gone by. Most of my time now is spent with my son, and it’s wonderful watching him grow up. I will treasure that time. I think that is time well spent, don’t you think?
Posted by Ling on March 20, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Very timely for me! Really reminded me to stop worrying about the future! Each moment in the present is indeed a present, a gift to be enjoyed!
Posted by meredith on March 20, 2007 at 6:53 pm
well put…once again the keys are being Present in the Moment, and being Aware. Awareness…so many of us walk around in that zombie state…just ticking away our time without even knowing what our purpose is. I do think so many people are waiting for when such and such happens, then I can be happy, or when such and such happens, then I can relax…it’s like the perpetual chasing the carrot…they never get ‘there’ because there is always some new carrot to chase.
Just be Present…in the Now, and nothing else matters.
Posted by sunfloweroptimism on March 20, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I can identify with Omni, above on technology overload! The blogging and keeping up do take a lot of time. Well today I have to file my sales tax for the year. How can I make that meaningful? Maybe think of what those taxes will buy in terms of services for my state and county! LOL
After reading you post, will try to get that unpleasant number crunching out of the way ASAP so I can enjoy my life this afternoon. I usually procrastinate and am running to the PO five minutes before it closes. Not today!
Thanks Mark, you bring sanity to life
Posted by Justin V on March 20, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Mark,
Where are you from? Where up north or West?
Anyways, great post. I totally agree about people wasting time, hanging out in angry resentment land. They could put that engery in othe places and focus on much better things. I think resentment gives people a feeling a pleasure. After a while, we began to like, resenting other people. The thing about resentment, is that most people try to spread it around. FOr instances at work, when someone makes you mad, most people attempt to get other co-workers to get mad along with them. It’s simply amazing of how other people’s engery and overwhlem and control others into thinking like them.
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Omni,
Thanks for the comment. Yes, it is very easy to get caught up in a virtual world. Balance is the key, there are great lessons and enjoyment that I derive from the virtual world, however it would not be good for me to spend all of my time there. One must balance life to fully enjoy all aspects of our day and to live on purpose.
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Maria,
I am very moved by your words. I love that you find solace and serenity in my writing and the comments of all who visit here.
There is magic all about us! We must simply be aware.
Thank-you for sharing my writing with others.
Blessings of love and peace to you and yours.
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Matty,
Thank-you for your thoughts. I agree, none of us know what day will be the last that we spend on this earthly journey. It is paramount that we live every moment on purpose.
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Chris,
Thank-you for sharing your very wonderful affirmation with us. I am sure that many will pick this one up and start using it. I love it’s simplicity and deep, clear meaning. The great thing is that you keep the affirmation in the present, that is key!
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Faith,
Sounds like you are very aware of how you are spending your time. Being an active parent to your child is one of the greatest gifts that you can give and receive.
Thank-you so much for adding your thoughts to this conversation.
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Ling,
I am glad that my writing came at a time that you needed it. There are no accidents, all happens for a reason.
Enjoy today, to worry about the future serves no purpose. It is good to think about the future, to plan, there is no need to worry. Understand your greatness and you will come to understand that there is nothing to worry about.
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Meredith,
Your thoughts on this are so valuable. Thank-you for sharing your wisdom.
Being now, is really all there is, everything else is an illusion.
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Sunfloweroptimism,
So glad to see you are back!
Not procrastinating on what you have to do today will help so much in making the most out of your day! Enjoy!
Thank-you for contributing your thoughts!
Posted by tobeme on March 20, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Justin,
You bring up a good point, and that is, that some people seem to enjoy creating resentment and misery. It is a good reminder that we should be on guard not to get caught up in someone else’s resentment or negative energy.
One good way to do this is to represent the person who is not there to defend themselves.
Thanks for adding such wisdom to the conversation.
BTW – I currently live in the Norh Eastern part of the United States.
Posted by enreal on March 21, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Thank you so much for this post…it is needed.
Posted by tobeme on March 21, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Enreal,
Thank-you for visiting and leaving your comment. I am glad to know that you found this article at time when you needed it.