The promise of today - Publisher's Letter - making the most of the present time - Brief Article

Men's Fitness, May, 2002 by Joe Weides

What can you speak of, plan for and look forward to, but never live to see? Tomorrow. It's a word I hear on a regular basis, and though there are plenty of reasons for one to look forward to another day and a host of new opportunities, tomorrow is not the day to pin your hopes on.

An old friend of mine had a saying; actually, he had a few. But the one that made the biggest impression on me was: "Today is the best day of your life." Not tomorrow, not yesterday--regardless of how great yesterday was or how great tomorrow promises to be. Dwell on the missed opportunities of yesterday, and you'll likely miss the new ones coming your way. Fantasize about the treasures of tomorrow, and you'll likely lose the initiative to uncover the ones that now lie in front of you.

Regardless of how bright or bleak it may seem at the time, concentrate on making the most of today. Set out to improve yourself; try to better some aspect of your life every single day, whether it be something as simple as learning the meaning of a new word or as difficult as completing your first full-length triathlon. That diet you've been planning on starting? That workout routine you've been talking about trying? Try it today. Don't wait for tomorrow. Because, in the end, none of us can afford to.