The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 8 Just For Today
[United States] Dale Carnegie
I just set aside half an hour for today to be alone and relax.During this half hour, sometimes I think about God, so that I can have a correct estimate of my own life.

I am only happy for today, so as to assume that Abraham Lincoln was right when he said that most people are happy roughly as much as they decide to be.Happiness comes from within, it is not an external thing.

I try to fit myself for today, not to fit everything to my desires.I accepted my family, career, and destiny as they came, and adapted myself to them.

I take care of my body just for today.I will train it, love it, nourish it, neither abuse it nor disregard it, make it a perfect machine at my disposal.

I try to strengthen my mind just for today.I want to learn useful things, I don't want to be mentally lazy, I want to read things that require effort, thought, and concentration.

I only behave in moderation for today.I try to be as graceful as possible, dress appropriately, speak in a low voice, behave politely, and be assiduous in compliments without criticism.No fault of anything, no attempt to regulate or improve anyone.

I live and work for this day, and I don't want to solve my whole life at once.I can work 12 hours straight, but having to do it my whole life would freak me out.

I only have one plan for today.I write down what I expect to do each hour.I may not be able to actually follow it, but I always have a plan.I want to get rid of the two evil spirits of haste and hesitation.

I just set aside half an hour for today to be alone and relax.During this half hour, sometimes I think about God, so that I can have a correct estimate of my own life.

I am fearless just for today, I am not afraid to be happy, to enjoy beautiful things, to love, and to believe that the people I love love me too.

Heart mark notes
The past is like a flash in the pan, turning into ashes in an instant, only engraved in memory; the future is like looking at flowers in a fog, and the virtual reality cannot be grasped.Smart people focus themselves on the here and now, taking the fleeting present seriously.

Live in the present, just for today, look at the city at night, why worry about what it will look like tomorrow, maybe the most beautiful scenery has been missed at the moment of distraction.Live in the present, do well today, why bother to be burdened by those unstable factors in the future, enjoy life to the fullest, pursue dreams to the fullest, even if you fall, it will be a very good memory.

Live in the moment, just for today, and cherish all the hard-won people, things, and things in the moment. This is what you have to do now.

(End of this chapter)