
Elle was a young woman who had a dream of retiring early and traveling the world. She posted photos of all the places she wanted to visit on her bedroom wall. âSomeday, Iâll be there,â she shared with all her friends. And she even regularly tweeted about the unique experiences she wanted to try in those destinations. But she kept putting off what she can do today to achieve that dream. She reasoned out that she was still young and that she had all the time in the world to do what she loved or even prepare for the future. She just kept saying âsomedayâ again and again, and she got lost in her daily daydreams with a smile. And the next thing she knows, she was 45 years old, tired and exhausted from working double shifts just to keep food on the table, and unable to travel the world because of the bills and mortgages she needed to pay.
So, what can we learn from the story of Elle? In a nutshell, living a full life involves seeing the value of doing something todayâto value every moment. That means focusing on today and intentionally pushing aside the temptation to just dream away your day to someday. (Thatâs quite a mouthful, but you get the idea.) In fact, falling into the trap of putting off what you can do today to tomorrow is detrimental to your pursuit of living a bold life!
Wait, Itâs More than Just Avoiding Saying âIâll do it laterâ
Truthfully, this article is more than just sidestepping procrastination. Life is short, they say. And thatâs true. And we donât know what the future holdsâyes, there may be a future, but you canât be sure youâre still around to see that future. At the end of the day, there is value in doing what you love today and not putting off what you can do todayâto reach your future dream or goalâfor tomorrow.
Candidly, the future, or tomorrow itself, remains but a dream. What has more weight is that: Youâre alive todayâwhich in itself is something to be grateful for. Take that as a nudge toward resolving to live bolder by focusing on the presentâon this moment where you are right nowâwithout worrying about the future. This day is yours! Value every moment. Sure, you can dream about what you can achieve and reach tomorrow, but donât make the mistake of wasting your time daydreaming your today away.
Value Every Moment: Immerse Yourself in the Present
So, why is there value in doing something today? Well, friend, remember this thought: You can make plans and set goals for the future, but there is only one today, and you never know if youâll get to wake up tomorrow. (I donât mean to sound so sordid, but itâs just the truth.) So, value every moment, every breath you take. Focus on the present, on âthe right nowâ, and enjoy life and do something you love today.
Go to the beach. Take a long road trip with your family. Hang out with your best friend for the weekend. Go on that trip to Greece youâve been saving up for. Eat at that 5-star restaurant youâve been eyeing for a while now. Itâs good to make a plan for the future, yes. But savor the present, today, while you consider the steps you need to take toward your goal for tomorrow. As long as you are working with your best to build a better future while doing something today, donât worry about your future. Accept your ânowâ in life as it is. There is value in living life one day at a time.
Finding that Necessary Balance
The balance between doing something TODAY and also planning for TOMORROW is key for you to value every moment. Indeed, enjoying the present moment is terrific. Nevertheless, there is worth in having a vision for your life, of what you want to achieve in the future. Just like a tightrope walker, you must find the balance.
Here are three tips to help you focus on and make the most of today and remain rooted in achieving the future you envision:
1: When you wake up in the morning, resolve right there and then in your mind that youâre going to value every moment and relish the day while still mindfully holding onto the future you want to see.
2: Write your plan of actionâincluding the steps you need to takeâto reach your main goal for the future. But stay grounded on enjoying today.
3: As you go throughout your day, be wise in reveling every moment of your day while enacting your plan for your future.
Make the Most of Todayâof the Now!
Want to start living a bolder life? Here’s our Bold Life Checklist of 48 Simple Actions that Yield Big Results. Take a breath and think about where you are right now. Take in this moment as it is. Be grateful. Then move and boldly live out your life doing what you love and accomplishing what you can today for a great day and a better future.
If Elle knew the value of doing something today, perhaps her life would have turned out differently. Maybe she wouldâve enjoyed her life each day. At the same time, she wouldâve also kept a list of the things she wanted to do and accomplish to reach a vision she had for her future. Perhaps, she would have spent each day enjoying her life to the fullest without sacrificing her long-term dreams. Perhaps, she wouldâve lived a bold life. Donât let the âwould haveâ or the âcould haveâ in Elleâs life be true in your own life. Choose today. Relish the now. Just do something.