Don't let yesterday use up too much of today

Yesterday is history,

tomorrow is a mystery,

today is a gift,

that's why we call it the present

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Living in the past can lead to depression over the could've, should've, would have's, living in the future can lead to anxiety over what's to come, living in the present allows our minds bodies and souls to focus on the here and now and whatever that here and now holds.

                                 

The past is just that, the past. It is important to remember where we have come from and the events and people that have shaped our lives; sometimes those memories lift us up and sometimes they bring us down. Trying to remember to move forward when the past is still holding you back is easy to say and not so easy to do. When events from the past have caused us to mistrust or bring into our hearts overwhelming sadness, it is hard to let those things go, and no one should try to tell someone how or when to do that. Healing has to occur in it's own time and for each person that is different.

Worrying too much about tomorrow or trying to plan out every aspect of our lives can cause anxiety, all of the what if's can fill our minds with unnecessary distress. It is important to look toward the future so that you can have the future you desire, however if you plan too much today doesn't matter as much as it should.

Today is a new day, everyday is a new day and a new opportunity to live the life you have in the best way you know how, that hopefully brings happiness in some form to your mind body and spirit. Everyday is not going to be all hearts & flowers, that is unrealistic; however everyday can have joy, peace and comfort in the form of all the little things we simply take the time to notice and be grateful for.

If we do our best to look at each day as an opportunity to shine, the sadness and resentments of yesterday can fade further into the past, where they belong.

For me, letting your light shine means two things; first it means shining my light to guide my own way and see my path more clearly, and secondly, it means shining my light on others to light their way when their light might not be a bright.

Today I ask you to try something that has worked wonders for me; I have a little journal that has a page for things I am grateful for and a page for random acts of kindness that I have done for others. By writing them down it shows me if there is a balance between the two and when I am having a bad day I can look back and see the things I am grateful for and the folks I have tried to make smile.

These do not have to be fancy things, they can be as simple as being grateful that you missed the traffic on the way to work (that is a huge one for me) and as simple as holding a door for someone or smiling and saying hello, sometimes that is all someone needs to turn their day around.

                                  

By living with gratitude and kindness, you are living in the present, and the present is what you choose to make of it, the hard part is getting those around you to share that same belief. Keep trying, and keep praying, these are the days of our lives and we get to choose how we live them.

Divine Spirit of the past, present and future

I am grateful for the people you have placed in my life,

Some I have learned from and some have learned from me.

Please bless my present with joy, peace, and love;

help me to see that the future will arrive in its own time

and the need to love and be grateful today

in order to have a brighter tomorrow

Amen

With love always,
Kristyn