Take Hold of Every Moment

"Don't wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to enjoy your life." - Joyce Meyer

Take Hold of Every Moment

by Author Unknown

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

"This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package." He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

"She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion.

Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:

"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life. Now I read more and clean less. I sit on the porch without worrying about anything. I spend more time with my family and less at work. I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket if I feel like it. I don't save my special things to wear or use just for special occasions, I use them whenever I want to. The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening, or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now.

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.

She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out more for her favorite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing if I knew my time had come. I would regret it because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... letters that I wanted to write "One of this days". I would regret and feel sad because I didn't say to my siblings, children, and parents, not enough times at least, how much I love them.

Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives. And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day. Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

Too often we do this in our everyday lives. We hold back or hold off for that perfect moment; sometime, or someday in the future. But we need to realize that in life there are no guarantees. We need to be present and live for the here and now. Seize each day with passion and enthusiasm for life as it is. Don't wait for the perfect moment; take the moment and make it perfect. Make the most of each day. Start today. 

Make today great!

Curtis

"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored." - Earl Nightingale