Tomorrow
“Tomorrow
is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very
clean. It's perfect when it arrives and puts itself in our hands. It
hopes we've learned something from yesterday.”
John Wayne
I love it when I go
looking for something specific, and find something better. That's
what happened this morning. I wanted to write about hands; they are
on my mind these days because mine hurt a lot. I've taken to thanking
them anyway, for all the things they do and have done for my whole
life. Do you ever think about your amazing hands? When you were born,
they were the first thing that worked about you—they could grip
your mom's pinky right out of the chute. From then until now, they
have been on the job, doing everything you've asked of them and more.
At least, that's true for most of us. That's what I intended to write
about this morning, but then I ran across this great quote from that
world renowned philosopher, John Wayne, and changed directions.
I'm sure my Buddhist and
Taoist friends are crying foul—yesterday is not important, it's the
present moment that counts, and such. And, they're right. If you care
about tomorrow, you'll want to pay attention to what you say and do
today. I'm often guilty of next-day remorse regarding my behavior—I
have an Irish temper that flashes hot, incinerates everything in its
path and then regrets it forever. Don't follow my lead on that one.
But, to the point, it is in our hands how tomorrow turns out. It's a
given that things happen every single day that are completely out of
our control. What we have control of is how we respond to what
happens.
The most important piece
of John Wayne's philosophy is learning something from yesterday. If
you're like me, and regularly do things you regret, say words you wish you
hadn't said, at least learn the lessons they teach. Approach this new
day consciously; in every moment be aware of what you say and do
and how it impacts others. Make this a day you will not regret
tomorrow.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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