A friend and I were talking this morning and she mentioned that she was a futurist. She likes to dwell upon what is coming, a visionary.
As a joke, I answered that I am a ‘todayist’. Today is all I can control, so it’s all I’m worrying about for now. Today is enough.
That reminded me of some of the precepts I’ve read from the Tao Te Ching. I’m no expert, but the basic idea seems to be that things are perfect now. There is no nirvana to aspire to. This is as good as it gets.
That may seem fatalistic, but to me it makes sense and is the reasoning behind my ever-present happiness. Yes, I get sad and have bad days. But if there were no bad days then I wouldn’t know what a good one was. You can’t recognize what ‘dry’ is until you’ve been wet. You don’t know how lovely a warm fire is until you’ve been cold.
I used to suffer from migraines so bad they would make me throw up and roll up away from all light and sound unable to speak. Whenever the tell-tale numbness and blindness would start I’d have a stab of dread, knowing I was in for a full day of intense pain. At the same time, I knew that when the pain had subsided, life was going to seem so utterly gorgeous and amazing it would all come out even.
For me, tomorrow is a myth that never arrives. By the time I see it a mutation will have occurred, turning it into today. I do my best to take wise steps to prepare for the future, but always with the knowledge that I am doing my best and nothing is guaranteed.
Today is all I can influence, and if I spend it worrying about what may happen I’ll miss what’s happening now. Important steps and opportunities will be passed by and lost. I think the world needs futurists. They are the dreamers that invent new possibilities. It’s good to look to the future, as long as we can see where we are.
Markets crash, money vanishes, people die, disasters rearrange our world within hours. I have no promise but today. I own nothing but my attitude. I’ll do what I can now, with what I have. This is all I get; now. It’s enough.
Some other things you might enjoy:
The Story of the Farmer (one of my favorite tales)
I want to print this blog entry and post it to my wall. I love everything you have to say in this post. I hope I can remember to keep some of these words of wisdom close to me. Another inspiring post. I’m so glad I met you!! :)
Aw, thx Amy! That’s high flattery to think I may end up pinned on a wall as inspiration ;p I’m glad I met you also, you are an awesome friend! xox
really love your opinion on this, and maybe if more of us were todayiest… (made up word hehe), we may stop working about the future so much:)
I agree Tania… what’s the saying? Today has enough troubles on it’s own… I can’t remember the rest of that.
I loved this post! I too try not to live for tomorrow. My theory is that we are still living in “creation” time (in other words, the “seven days” are not over.) Since creation blooms and dies all around us all the time why think of a future that isn’t formed yet?
:)
Marsha
Good point Marsha! When we put an expectation on the future I think we lock it in, often with low expectations. I do anyways. If I just let it be what it will be it’s almost always much better than I imagined. So good to see you here btw ;D xox Angela
I haven’t felt well, so I haven’t been on the computer. Could you let me know your itinerary? I thought we might could meet as you travel to New Jersey.
I love reading your blog. Your creativity has just blossomed! I can’t wait to see you again.
Marsha
Oh that would be awesome to visit! I lose track of where everyone is lately… it should be beginning of November late October time frame. That would be so fun to catch up. ;D