Just For Today

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Just For Today

July 11, 2015 by kmabarrett

Just for today, I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today, I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.“

Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my “luck” as it comes, and fit myself to it.

Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don’t want to — just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt; but today I will not show it

Just for today, I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticize not one bit, not find fault with anything and not try to improve or regulate anybody except myself.

Just for today, I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.

Just for today, I will have a quiet half hour all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.

Just for today, I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

— Various Attributions

[There are also various versions. The above is the version I have in my journal from back in the late 1970’s. — kmab]

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On This Day In:
2014	Reaching For Destiny
2013	Still Just Passing Through
2012	Live Or Die
2011	On Secession
2010	A Rocky Weekend

Posted in My Journal, Philosophy, Poetry, Quotes | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, Just For Today, My Journal, Philosophy, Poems, Poetry, Prayers, Quotes, Various Attributions | 2 Comments

2 Responses

on July 11, 2015 at 4:09 am | Reply omanalabri2013

Nicely written. It is so beautiful. I wrote a piece of writing similar to this style and my professor liked very much. I am trying to publish it some where but I am waiting.
- on July 11, 2015 at 6:16 pm | Reply kmabarrett
  
  Hello, again! It seems you are becoming a regular visitor. Thank you!
  
  You should understand that most of the quotes I post are not my own and I do try to state the original source (when I can find it). The quotes are simply things I read and which give me pause to think about. Most times I will agree with the quote, but sometimes I will not. The point is the words expressed something which made me think – so I am sharing them. You’ll also find, many times I don’t offer any comment on the quote. This is because “my” comments might alter the reader’s (you for instance) initial interpretation of the quote. That is NOT normally my intent. My intent is to simply present a statement which I found well worded – even if I don’t agree with the statement. Normally, my “comments” are hidden in the title of the post. I do, occasionally include a comment. Sometimes, I just can’t resist…
  
  In this case, the list / quote is something I found and included in my journal some 30 to 40 years ago. The was no author listed, so I presume I never knew who wrote it. On researching the list / quote prior to posting it, I found authorship to be claimed by a number of different people and it is currently used (with modifications) by a number of drug rehabilitation charities. The bottom line is I don’t know who composed the initial list.
  
  Anyway, I hope you will continue to visit my site and comment anytime something raises your interest enough to do so.
  
  Thanks, again.
  Kevin