On Living a Good Day

One should count each day a separate life. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

"Live in the moment", "Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present", "Carpe dium"...

Everyone knows that we should live in the now, not dwell on the past, and not focus too much on the future because we never know what's going to happen. But who ever tells you how to do it?

I doubt very much that there is a "correct way" to live in the present. To a certain extent, we all do and yet none of us do. The inventions of planners, calendars, even palm pilots, smart-phones, and other modern "to do list organizers" have cluttered our lives and made it almost impossible to remember to live in the moment. Meetings, doctors appointments, parties, events... all these are planned months, even years in advance.

For some things, planning ahead is appropriate, but for others... when will "someday" happen? The Disney movie "UP" focuses on just that. A couple who have been together since childhood dream of traveling, but life gets in the way until it's too late to make their lifelong dream of seeing the world together come true. (In true Disney fashion, there's a happy ending, but I'll not spoil it). Recent events in Tucson, AZ also call to mind the necessity of living in the moment, and who can forget 9/11? All around us are reminders to carpe dium, and yet how many of us put off living for today until tomorrow?

First things first: it may sound simple, but the easiest way to live in the moment is to pay attention. Consciously watch for moments during the day when you feel happiness, joy, serenity, anything positive. When you feel that moment happening, focus on it, and if possible, keep doing it. It can be anything - a ray of sun poking through snowy-day clouds, the sound of birds, a cool breeze on a hot day, the realization that you have nice handwriting, a joke, a smile, a child... look for and focus on the ordinary miracles. Before long, with constant practice, you'll have your first day where all you can remember are the good things, because that's all you've focused on. Moments make a day, and living in each moment - truly watching it with wonder - makes for a 'wonderful' day.