We spend so much of our lives thinking about the past and the future that we can forget to actually live in the present. The thing is they don’t exist.
They are merely false projections of the present.
The past is just a collection of days that happened in the present while the future is a collection of days that will also happen in the present.
It’s impossible to live in any other time other than right now. Today is all there is and ever will be.
Everything you have ever done has happened today. Everything you ever will do will also happen today.
Every morning we wake up in a new version of today and who knows what this day will bring. The very best moments of your life so far were experienced after getting out of bed in the morning.
This is why today will be the best day of your life, because today is the day you will…
1. Laugh until it hurts
We’ve all done it – sitting around with your best friends, chatting away when suddenly someone bursts out in a fit of giggles. It’s infectious – one by one, everyone else starts giggling too. You don’t really know why – I mean, yes it was funny but…
The giggles are turning to laughter, not the rip roaring kind either, but the silent kind.
You are struggling to breath and the more you try and stop, the harder it becomes.
Everyone is falling to the floor and while you are struggling for breath, you experience that awesome moment when all of life’s problems no longer exist.
How long has it been since you experienced this?
Today could be the funniest day of your life.
2. Have your next first kiss
Where will this be? Who will it be with? Do you know this person already or will it be a total stranger?
Think back to when you had your last first kiss with someone – that will happen today and it will put you in a fantastic mood.
3. Fall in love
That magical moment when you meet the person of your dreams may be hours away. You might bump into their trolley at the supermarket or be introduced to them at a party. Maybe they are sat next to you right now and their eyes will meet yours as they catch you checking them out… Have a look, see who’s there…
The beauty is that this ‘moment’ will catch you totally by surprise.
4. See your new favourite movie
I remember the first time I saw Magnolia – almost 3 hours of movie perfection. At the time it was the best I had ever seen, but strangely it was a movie I had seen years earlier that now holds the number 1 position – Groundhog Day.
It became a grower, slowly etching itself into my brain, taking root and refusing to let go. Will it be there forever? I hope not. A new masterpiece is coming.
We go into every new movie with the hope it will blow us away and you know what? Someday, maybe even today, your mind will be blown.
5. Do something you have never done before
There was a time before you had your first kiss – you had no idea what it felt like but you just knew you had to find out. That day came and it changed how you viewed the world.
We all remember the first time we went on a plane. That weird feeling of taking off, our ears popping and depending on the type of person you are, either loved every second of it or went into panic mode. But it was new and it was interesting.
Sometimes we know beforehand that we are going doing something new, other times it will take us by surprise. It may be scary or it may be fun, who knows?
You’re soon going to find out.
6. Catch up with an old friend
Occasionally the people we grow up with become distant, often through no fault of any particular person but it happens. Life gets in the way; it has a habit of doing that.
Today you will meet up with a long lost friend and it will be like old times. You will kick yourself that you allowed this person to drift away, but don’t worry – you won’t let it happen again.
Stories will be shared, laughter will ensue and numbers will be exchanged.
7. Start a new hobby
April 26th 1998 – the day I first picked up a guitar. It changed my life.
What will you start today that will change yours?
8. Learn to accept yourself
How confident are you? Do you like yourself as a person? Are you comfortable in your own skin?
Most people are continuously fighting who they are on the inside mainly because the person they truly want to be is different than the person that presents itself to the world. This conflict creates a feeling of inadequacy and therefore a lack of confidence.
We feel like we aren’t good enough. We compare our body and our looks to those of others and feel upset when we don’t measure up.
Self-improvement is always a good thing but to succeed we first have to accept the person we currently are – for better or worse. The day when you finally learn to accept yourself, is the day you can finally move forward.
Make it today.
9. Quit your job and follow your passion
Today was the day in which you started the job you hate, so make today the day when you quit.
You know what you want to do with your life – even if you don’t think you do. Deep down you have a passion, a true calling, something that is bubbling under the surface during every waking moment.
That is what you should be doing.
When you realise this and take the first step towards it, your life will suddenly feel awesome.
10. Break free from that one bad person
I guarantee that everyone reading this knows someone that continually torments them. A friend who picks at everything you do or a family member who fails to support your life choices.
Some of you may even be the victim of some form of domestic abuse.
Today can be the day when you choose to break free from this person. You can totally eliminate them from your life or if that’s not possible, refuse to allow their negativity to bring you down.
It is always your choice.
11. See your child for the first time
This is something I have yet to experience but if there is one thing every new parent can be certain of doing, it’s putting several thousand pictures of their new born baby on Facebook.
Apparently it’s the law.
One day you will either give birth to a baby or will witness one being born. It will be a strange, crazy, scary yet magical occasion and right now, thousands of parents are seeing their baby for the first time.
For every new parent, today is the best day of their life bar none.
12. Stand up to your bully
I used to be bullied at school. The usual stuff that most kids go through like name calling and general day to day mockery, but I also experienced physical bullying too.
You know, like being punched in the stomach for sport – the fun stuff.
Fast forward to 2007 and I see one of my former tormentors in a bar. I walk up to him and ask if he recognises me, he said he doesn’t but we both knew the truth. He looks worried; I causally tell him that I remember what he used to do, but not to worry, it’s all forgotten. He still looks worried.
I bid him a farewell and go back to what I was doing.
If you had told me that today I would have faced down a former bully I would have called you crazy.
Yet that’s exactly what I did, and it felt great!
13. Make somebody proud
Do you remember as a kid when you did something YOU were proud of, and you just wanted someone, anyone, to come and see?
Look mum, look at this picture I drew… or if we go back a few more years – look mum, look at this mess I made…
You know what? We never grow out of this either. The feeling we get when someone recognises our achievements will always make us feel special.
We should never stop trying to please those people that have invested themselves emotionally in us.
Your graduation, your wedding day, your new job – today you will do something to make someone proud.
14. Help someone change their life
Every now and then someone will turn to you for advice. Sometimes you will have the answers and sometimes you won’t know what to say, but just by being there you will be helping this person get through whatever is troubling them.
It feels great to know that you are there for a friend. Sharing your experiences and reassuring them that they don’t have to go through it alone.
Altruism – the act of selflessly helping or caring for others is extremely rewarding and is a great way to make today worthwhile.
15. Be happy
Don’t look towards an imaginary future, be happy today. You deserve it.
What amazes me about life is how spontaneous it is and can be. People like to think it’s a stagnant and boring road but that’s because they’re not open to its randomness! Today is going to be different from two months ago, how can you not see that? Every day is a day where you may be able to Tango dance or perhaps meet the person of your dreams.
Vincent recently posted..8 Warning Signs You Are Wasting Your Life And Don’t Even Realize It
That’s true – every day is an unknown. Who know what will happen? Just head into it with your eyes open and make sure you make the most of whatever happens!
Hi, Jamie! I found your site on a list of top 50 personal development blogs and I’m so happy I did. I’m really enjoying reading your articles and they’re keeping me motivated on my path to keep learning and trying new things to become the best me I can be.
Thank you!
Hey thanks! It means a lot that you are enjoying my site and getting something from it. 🙂
Today is that day for me….7,8,9,10,13,14,and 15…the rest I’ve done or do every day…Cheers to me!!
All of those in one day? Sounds like a pretty good day to me 🙂