"The past is history, the future is a mystery, the moment is a gift...that's why it's called the present"
I'm not sure where that quotation originated, but it's one of those little gems that has stuck with me for a long time.
Often times we get lost in the past. Lost in the what if's and the shoulda, woulda, coulda... And though I agree that the past should not be ignored it is of utmost importance to not allow yourself to get so lost in it that you miss the moment. Take it for what it's worth; a lesson to learn from and apply in the future.
On the contrary there are some who get lost in the future, myself included. We are the kind of people who live in the what will be. Always reaching for the future and longing for that time when things will change and get better... that is no way to live either. The danger is that you lose sight of the now. You become blind to what is right there in front of you and you forget how to appreciate the gifts that have been graciously placed before you.
This longing for the future has some serious consequences in my life. Tendencies of being incredibly hard on myself increase. Not that being hard on yourself is all bad, but if you take it to a certain level you forget what truly matters in life. And what truly matters is faith, family, and friends...pretty simple really. I also have tendencies to sell myself short because I'm wanting the future to happen so badly that I am not patient enough to wait and allow it to happen. I could probably go on, but no need to bear all...
To sum it up, try and live passionately...and do so in the present because that's what has been given to you. Don't save it for another day and don't think of all the times you lived passionately...that was then and this is now. Embrace it and never allow anything to get between you and the truly important things in life... your faith, family, and friends. If your world is turned upside down those three things will prevail. Your job, judgements, monetary assets, etc. cannot live up to that nor do they hold the power to sustain you.
