“Live for today.  Multitudes of people have failed to live for today…What they have had within their grasp today they have missed entirely, because only the future has intrigued them”

— William Allen White

The first glow of dawn is just now beginning to appear on the eastern horizon.  A brand new day lies before me.  Already, I have a list of chores written and posted on the side of my desk so that I remember to take care of the nuts and bolts of life that need to be tightened in order for the machinery to function smoothly.  I am not a forgetful person, but I do need a list.  Having it handy for a quick glance now and then assures me that I am free to adventure today without neglecting the basics of food, shelter, and clothing.  We all have to manage these necessities so that our basic needs are met.  Those are the things that require lists.  The rest of the day will unfold, one petal at a time, just like a flower bud whose time has come to open.

Winter in the Northeast can be a challenging time to stay focused on the present.  The black and white and gray world of snow and bare earth and clouds can encourage us to live in our memories of seasons past or spend our hours dreaming of more colorful days to come.  These dreams are alluring, just like any dreams we might have of the future; but while we are engaged in thinking about times that have not yet arrived, we miss out on the things unfolding before our eyes.

Real living takes place in every moment we move and breathe.  Surprising and inspiring events unfold every single day.  We must live in the place and time where we find ourselves, knowing that the future is not months or years away, but only seconds beyond our reach.  If it is only human to look toward the future, let’s at least keep our eyes focused on each coming minute rather than letting our dreams of the future rob us of the present.  Who knows what surprising inspiration might be lying right where we are?  Who knows how our future might change if we seize the opportunity to live this moment to its fullest and carry what we discover along to the next?

It is good to dream, and our dreams carry us forward as we explore our world; but we must remember that the time to live our dreams is now.  Once today is gone, we cannot reclaim it.  Live.  Watch your world unfold today, and pay attention.  The future is unfolding right now.