Every morning it’s my routine to dive into the word of God and read some type of daily devotional. Recently, I started a plan for single women. While on most days, the plan covers how much God loves us and how He has a plan for each of us, today’s reading was a bit different. The title was “one day at a time.” There is a verse in the bible in Matthew 6:34 NIV that says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I used to turn to this particular verse often during my days of anxiety and depression. It was a comfort knowing that I did not have to dwell in my worry over the future, because in reality there was already enough on my plate for today that God would take care. However, because of today’s reading I am looking at this verse a little different, especially in the light of my new circumstance – the single life.
It’s been difficult this past week. I find myself being ok for awhile and then the next minute I become engulfed in tears once more. Heartbreak is never easy and each of us will experience it in our own unique way. Although we may be able to comfort each other because we know what it’s like to experience such a thing, in reality we all have to go through it on our own. Go through the suffering, the pain, the grief, and lastly the renewal and hope towards a new part of our lives. However, during this period of grief I have been going in and out of worry. Thinking about what my future may now hold because it has changed course dramatically. Dwelling on the past and all of the moments of happiness that are now simply memories. And through all these thoughts, I am coming to realize that I haven’t really focused much on the present. I’ve been so busy reliving the past and worrying about my future that I have not focused on today and how to simply enjoy it for what it is.
I feel that if we are constantly thinking of the past or worrying about the future then we are only robbing ourselves of the present moment, and in reality, that is all we have. ALL WE HAVE IS NOW. Think about it. My devotional brought up this great point saying that, “it’s impossible to live in yesterday because yesterday is gone. You can’t get it back no matter how appealing that may seem. The happy memories of yesterday are yours to keep and treasure, but that time has elapsed, and you must move on. It is also impossible to live tomorrow because it has not yet arrived. In truth tomorrow will never arrive because when it comes it is no longer tomorrow. In one tick of the clock it has become today.” It’s so true. No matter how hard we try or how much time we spend dwelling, we simply cannot bring back the past or any of it’s happy moments. We may cherish them, but we cannot relive them. We can make new memories, but we cannot remain in the old ones. And as far as the future, why worry about tomorrow, when today has enough troubles of its own? Again, no matter how hard we try we can never predict what tomorrow will bring. We only know today. We only know this moment. Right now. The present. That is the only thing that we can guarantee. But the future can ALWAYS change. That is why there is no point to worry over it. Sure, we can prepare for our future and do the best that we can to make it a happy one, but it is impossible to sit and plan out everything that is going to happen.
Don’t miss the blessing of today. Don’t miss out on the joy that you can experience today because you are too busy living in the past or worrying over your future. There is so much to experience right now. Don’t wait until tomorrow to experience it. Don’t wait until things are better. Make them better right now. Don’t wait until you stop feeling sad. Don’t wait until you stop feeling angry or hurt or bitter. Don’t wait until life gets better or you start feeling ok. Get up and enjoy life RIGHT NOW. I know it still hurts. You cannot discount the pain, but you cannot allow yourself to sit and dwell in it either. Yes, it’s going to be hard to move again, to start again, to get up again and take that first step, but once you do, it will be worth it and it will be ok.
I’m not saying it will cure your pain or your broken heart, but it will get you one step closer to freedom from it. We need to stop wasting time. Life is too precious to stay unhappy. We are in control. We may not have control over what happens to us, however we do have control on how we react to the things that happen to us. We can choose to be ok. We can choose to move forward. We can choose to enjoy the present moment. So let’s try to. You and me. Let’s try to live in the present moment. To seize the day. To go experience what life has to offer. To seek after our own happiness and our own fairy tales.
The Self Love Daily Challenge #037: All we have is now. Enjoy the present moment.
Go out and enjoy today for what it is. Do not think about what happened yesterday or what could happen tomorrow. Think only on what is now.
The Self Love Daily Challenge #038: Choose to react wisely to what happens to you.
Life may be difficult, but choose your reactions wisely. You are in control of them.
xx love you all.
Christina Ciro
The Self Love Challenge 
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