Why Living in the Now Matters for Happiness

Kris Kristofferson wrote about the heart.

In his song, “Help me Make it through the Night,” there’s a single line that should serve as a warning for all of us. it goes “Yesterday’s dead and gone, and tomorrow’s out of sight.” It’s a tragedy too many people don’t realize.

We carry the hurts of yesterday with us always. We revisit them. We roll in them like a dog might in the yard. Unfortunately, when a dog rolls in the yard, it’s probably found something stinky and carries it with them.

Often times when we look back, it’s not the good times we think about. It’s the bad. And like the dog with the stink, we roll in it.

Sadly, we can’t change that. You can’t go back and change your turning left when you should have went right. Or eliminating a relationship you should never have had. You’re the sum total of your triumphs and failures today. You can’t change that.

You are who you are.

And you can accept that and continue with the idea of living, or you can lay down and continue to stink. Let it go.

And tomorrow?

You might not even be here to worry about it. Besides, that where fear lives anyway.

Live in the here and now.

Be kind.

Be thoughful.

Be thankful.

Enjoy the moment.