The Precious Now

We live each day wasting precious time away. We postpone our dreams and put our lives on hold, thinking that there will be a lot of time in the future for us to do them all. In the meantime, Father Time’s white beard keeps growing longer as he flies with the hourglass. The sands of time do not stand still and can never go back because time only knows how to move forward.

We never learn our lesson until it is too late. Here are some insightful stories on why we should live life to the max — not yesterday, not tomorrow, but right now. Because the only time that really matters is the precious now!

* * * The Old Man And The Packet

The old man opened the drawer of his wife’s hope chest and took a packet wrapped with nice paper.

"This," he said, "is not just any packet, it is a lingerie." He threw away the wrapper and observed the beautiful silk material and embroidery.

"We bought it the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She never used it. She was keeping it for a special occasion. Well, I think this is the right occasion."

He went close to the bed and he put it next to the other things he was going to bring ... to the funeral home. His wife had just died.

Turning towards me he said, "Do not keep anything for a special occasion, everyday that you live is a special occasion."

I am still thinking of his words. They have changed my life. Now, I read more and clean less. I sit in the terrace and admire the view, without noticing the weeds in the garden. I spend more time with my family and friends, and less time working. I understand that life is a succession of experiences to be enjoyed, not just survival.

I do not keep anything anymore. I use my crystal glasses every day. I wear my new jacket to go to the supermarket, if I so decide or if I feel like it. I no longer keep my best perfume for special events; I use it every time I want to. I am grateful for what I have, and not curse what I don’t have.

The word ‘someday’ has disappeared from my vocabulary. If it is worth listening to, seeing or doing, I want to listen, see or do it now. I am not sure what my friend’s wife would have done had she known that she would not be here for that tomorrow that every one hopes for.

I think she might have called up all her relatives and intimate friends. Maybe she would have called some old friends to make amends for an old dispute. I like to think she might have gone to eat some oriental food, her favorite. Or would have been less obsessed with money that she couldn’t take to her grave anyway. It is these few things not done that would bother me if I knew these were my last hours.

I would be upset because I stopped seeing good friends that I meant to contact someday. Upset because I did not write those letters I meant to write one day. Upset and sad because I did not tell often enough those close to me, how much I love them. Now I try not to postpone, keep or not do anything that would add laughter and fun to our lives.

And every day I tell myself that this day is special ...everyday, every hour, every minute is special. And I always ask myself, "If I go, will somebody miss me? How many people will go to my funeral?" Sender: Liza Yusay

* * * Make Your Days Count

If there were ever a time to dare, to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing, it is now. Not for any grand cause, necessarily — but for something that tugs at your heart, something that’s your aspiration, something that is your dream.

You owe it to yourself to make your days count. Have fun. Dig deep. Stretch. Dream big. Know that things that are worth doing seldom come easy. There will be good days. And there will be bad days. There will be times when you want to turn around, pack up, and call it quits. Those times tell you that you are pushing yourself, that you are not afraid to learn by trying.

Persist. With an idea, determination, and the right tools, you can do great things. Let your instincts, your intellect, and your heart guide you. Trust. Believe in the incredible power of the human mind. Of doing something that makes a difference. Of working hard. Of laughing and hoping. Of lazy afternoons. Of lasting friends. Of all the things that will cross your path this year.

The start of something new brings the hope of something great. Anything is possible. There is only one you. And you will pass this day only once. Do it right! — Author Unknown . Sender: Rlyn Escalona

* * * A Day At A Time

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his contractor-employer of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a favor. The carpenter said yes, but it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front door key to the carpenter.

"This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked. What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Life is like a do-it-yourself project. Your attitudes and the choices you make today build the "house" you live in tomorrow. Build wisely! Sender: Claudine Bananal

* * * Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Yesterday I met a stranger. Today that stranger is my friend. Had I not taken the time to say hello, or return a smile, or shake a hand, or listen, I would not have known this person. Yesterday would have turned into today and our chance meeting would have been gone.

Yesterday I hugged someone very dear to me. Today he is gone and tomorrow will not bring him back. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all knew tomorrow would still be here? But this is not to be, so take the time today to give a hug, a smile, and say, "I love you."

Just for today, smile at a stranger, listen to someone’s heart; drop a coin where a child can find it. Learn something new, then teach it to someone. Tell someone you’re thinking of him. Hug a loved one. Don’t hold a grudge. Don’t be afraid to say, "I’m sorry". Look a child in the eye and tell him how great he is.

Don’t kill that spider in your house, he’s just lost so show him the way out. Look beyond the face of a person into his heart. Make a promise, and keep it. Call up someone, for no other reason than to just say "hi". Show kindness to an animal. Stand up for what you believe in. Smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind. Use all your senses to their fullest and cherish all your todays. Sender: Japinoy

* * * Seize The Moment

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedules, didn’t know it was coming, or were too rigid to depart from their routines.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. Ever since, I’ve tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husbands didn’t suggest going out to dinner? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched "Jeopardy" on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in half an hour?" She would gasp and stammer, "I can’t." Check one of these reasons you’ve used before: "I have clothes in the dryer." "My hair is a mess." "I wish I had known yesterday." "I had a late breakfast." "It looks like rain." And my personal favorite: "It’s Monday." My sister died a few years ago. We never had lunch together.

Because we cram so much into our lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect. We’ll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet trained. We’ll entertain when we replace the living room carpet. We’ll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I’m going to", "I plan on", and "Someday when things settle down a bit."

When anyone calls my seize-the-moment friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes and you’re ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of roller blades and skip the elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It’s just that I might as well apply it directly to my hips with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now, go on and have a nice day. Do something you want to, not something on your should do list. Sender: Audrey L. Tan

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Thanks to all the original writers of these wonderful materials forwarded on the Internet. Feel free to pass these on to your loved ones and friends. It should make the original writers happy, and who knows, someone you hold dear may be touched by these stories, learn a thing or two, and live a better, fuller life!

Food for thought: Mr. or Ms. Politician, if you knew tomorrow is your last day, what would you do today?

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I’d love to hear from you! deeperdoor@yahoo.com or deropedero@hotmail.com. Should you want to pass on portions of this particular article, please acknowledge The Philippine Star Lifestyle Section, LIVING ALIVE by Dero Pedero. My book Jewels for the Mind, a collection of thoughts, formulas and affirmations for success, prosperity and fulfillment, is available at National Book Store, Powerbooks and PageOne, Rockwell. Thanks for all your letters and e-mail!