LIVING LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME
I used to be a planner and a worrier - well, I'm still a planner and a
worrier....but I'm getting better at not being controlled by those two
traits. I remember reading how living in the moment - being present in the
present so to speak - reduces stress and worry exponentially. And the more I
practice living one day at time, the more relaxed I'm becoming.
I wanted to share a few quotes and thoughts about that today because I
think we all need to be reminded now and then that yesterday's been,
tomorrow hasn't come.... we just have now...
REMEMBERING A GOLDEN OLDIE
As I was thinking about living one day at a time I immediately caught an
earworm of this song:
One day at a time, sweet Jesus
Thats all I'm asking of You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What I have to do
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
God help me today
Show me the way
One day at a time
I'm only human
I'm just a woman
Help me believe in what I could be
And all that I am
Oh, show me the stairway
That I have to climb
Lord, for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time
It was written by Marijohn Wilkins and Kris Kristofferson in 1974 (yes! Kris Kristoffferson!) and you can check it out on youtube if you want to be singing along with it too. It was an immediate reminder that life can feel stressful, but all we need to do is be present in this day, this moment... nothing more. That's not a big requirement, and there's so much peace and contentment to be found if we can keep our minds centred in "the now".
A FEW LIVING IN THE NOW QUOTES
I'm a follower of
Power of Wordz on Facebook
and I wanted to share a few of their quotes about living one day at a time
because they create really thoughtful snippets with lovely
backgrounds.
LIVING SERENELY
I think many soon-to-be retired people
wonder how they'll fill the years ahead
without a job taking up most of their time. It can be quite daunting
looking into a future filled with so much free time. I know that when I
see a week on my calendar with only one or two activities scheduled, I
immediately begin to wonder if I'll be bored, or if life is coming to a
standstill.
The really great thing about having flexible days is that they tend to
fill themselves up organically. One day might end up being
a Do-Nothing Day, but then other things pop up as the days go by. I look back and the
week has flown by full of lots of unexpected outings or activities that I
hadn't planned, but that had fallen nicely into place. The more time I
spend in retirement, the less I wonder and worry about what lies ahead.
The
days flow into each other
and there's always something on the horizon.
Meanwhile, I live one day at a time and savour the many precious moments
that come my way. It's an extremely
pleasant way to live.
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I'm first! Well....I was here when your email came through. Any self-realisation that works for us is so worth it. I was just saying to my husband when I could have had a 'whinge' ...one day I won't be able to do this (I am making his batch of little cakes) and I will regret being 'annoyed' about it. Thanks for sharing your words which help others too. Denyse
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - lovely to see you visiting when it's not through a link party. I do hope you'll keep popping in on occasion (even when you're not blogging yourself). Yes, I agree with you that even the little annoying things become less so when we change our focus a little and think about how lucky we are to have the time and the ability to do them and then move onto more fun pastimes - so nice to not be fitting it in around a job!
DeleteHi
ReplyDeleteLeanne. Your words are always so encouraging and they fill me with hope. This is exactly how I want to live my life. Sharing to Fb. Christina Daggett xx
Hi Christina - I always appreciate your FB shares x And I'm glad I can encourage you to keep living that fabulous expat life you've created for yourselves. Just enjoying each day as it comes along and appreciating your lovely apartment and all you've achieved there - I hope you hug yourself a little with a sense of "well done" xx
DeleteI have only just found your blog and it has already been helpful. I retired as we went into COVID and it wasn’t exactly as I had imagined of course. But I have never been happier. It’s like being a child again, freedom! I love my hobbies and spend time with the most important people in my life. No rules, no people who bring you down and no time schedule if you don’t want one. Here’s to many years of retirement. Thank you 🙏🏻
ReplyDeleteHi! You must have retired around the same time I did (the first time I finished work). It took me ages to get the hang of retirement - it felt like I didn't deserve so much free time and the luxury of not having to go to work. I returned to a new little part-time job for a year, and it confirmed that I was really ready to claim full retirement and to give myself the grace of enjoying this well earnt rest. We're so blessed aren't we? Thanks for taking the time to comment and I hope you'll keep popping back to read more. x
DeleteThank you Leanne for another beautiful and encouraging post. With chronic pain and dealing with complicated grief I have no choice but to live one day at a time and sometimes one hour at a time. I take breaks by reading, walking in the park, meditating listening to music and I relish every small joyful moments. Blogs like yours brings me joy and comfort.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I wrote a comment on your last post but I didn't see it. Was it deleted? Just wondering!
Hi Yvonne - sorry about your last comment - sometimes the cyber-gremlins just mess with comments and they disappear (fortunately not too often!) I certainly didn't delete it - I love hearing from you. I'm glad you're taking life slowly and looking for moments of joy - you can't do much more than that when life weighs heavily. xx
DeleteLeanne, You made me think, as I am definitely a planner and doer. I recall my mom struggled in her later years with not having anything to do and many days saying she was bored. She ended up watching too much TV, just because it filled the space. I don't want that life; she was not happy with it and I doubt I would be either. So I plan, I explore, I try new things. I work on creating connection with others, establishing habits of doing things - whether it's craft projects or cardio workouts. I do choose things that bring me joy. I allow for long lunches, morning coffee and journaling, a spontaneous activity, or some long afternoons to just read or nap. I don't feel like my days are busy - just full. I live each day, but also plan for tomorrow because if I I see too many empty days, I stress out. I guess it's knowing what I need, and
ReplyDeleteHi Pat - you're a similar personality type to me, but I think you're better at handling stress and being proactive with your planning. I'm more inclined to get a bit overwhelmed these days if my calendar is too full. I like a mixture of planned times and quiet times - celebrating the things that matter, investing in friendships, but also not being concerned about the future and what it may or may not hold. I might get bored by the time I'm 90 - but I'll worry about it when I get there (TV shows may have improved by then!) :)
DeleteHi Leanne, I can relate to your comments. I recently began listening to a guided meditation each morning to try to learn how to control my over active mind - I'm a worrier too and I recognise it needs to be reigned in so I can enjoy life in a more carefree way. It's early days but I am hoping to learn to 'live in the moment' more than I do.
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth - I used to be SUCH a worrier - and it still creeps up on me at times. I seem to get anxious about smaller things these days and I just don't want to live like that. I've come to see that the majority of it is worrying about stuff that may never happen and I need to remind myself of this and let the worrying go. I find not looking too far ahead and just being grateful for my life right now really helps me stay grounded. It sounds like you're on a similar journey x
DeleteHi, Leanne - I am a true believer of TODAAT and AWM (Take One Day At a Time and All Words Matter). Is there any better way to live?
ReplyDeleteThank you for another great post.
Hi Donna - you're a prime example of balancing living in the moment with having a few planned events on your horizon. The fact that you could pivot so well when your last trip didn't turn out as expected (without being completely thrown by it) shows how well you do this "live one day at a time" thing.
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ReplyDelete"The really great thing about having flexible days is that they tend to fill themselves up organically." Isn't that the truth?! I savor those blank days on the calendar, a day with no appointments. In the words of my SIL, there's always a list of things left undone & sometimes those blank days are for leaving that list undone. Living in the present, being mindful. I can be anxious about what's to come & I have to remind myself that right now, this moment, everything is okay. Everyday, I like to do something that needs doing & something that wants doing.
Hi Mona - I think you have the balance just right. We just need to keep reminding ourselves that we can't change the past or the future - we can only do our best with the time we have in the day. I like to mix it between having things to do and having nothing to do too - I just love it when I have a few hours with nothing scheduled - except a good book, or some time browsing online, or a jigsaw, or some other lovely pastime. Life is so very good isn't it? x
DeleteIsn't it a great time of life Leanne and it's nice to plan or not plan our days/weeks away. Great quotes again, thanks for sharing them and where they're from.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - that's it exactly - it's not all lazing around and it's not all running around - it's the perfect blend of both - and on our own terms - one day at a time :) x
Delete'the less I wonder and worry about what lies ahead' I love this bit. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lydia - it's a lovely time of life and one I plan on living one day at a time - worrying about tomorrow really is such a waste :)
DeleteThis post is like it was written for me, Leanne. I too am learning to live in the moment, and these quotes were spot on. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Christie - I feel such a sense of relief to let all the worrying take a back seat. I still have my moments, but the majority of the time I'm just focused on the here and now - and it's a very pleasant way to live.
DeleteOh my but those lyrics brought me right back remembering work colleagues from a long time ago. If one can allow days just be it is a precious gift to be able to give onself.
ReplyDeleteI smiled when I listened to the song too - it certainly stuck in my head for a few days! And yes, allowing each day to be what it is, that's the secret to a very content life.
DeleteOh yes. One day at a time, that's the way to go. Especially as we get older and maybe with health issues. The only day we know is TODAY so we'd better embrace it and enjoy what we have! After my osteoporosis diagnosis I'm all in with this, to enjoy the NOW because that's the only thing I can control. I love that song by the way, didn't know Kris Kristofferson wrote it!
ReplyDeleteHi Susanne - I didn't know Kris Kristofferson wrote it either (I thought it was older than what it actually was). And yes, I completely agree that health issues make us realize that we need to appreciate what we have right now - because who knows what's around the corner? I feel so much more centred and grateful when I'm just focused on the "now" rather that worrying about things that have been or are yet to come.
DeleteAlthough I'm not much of a planner, I am a worrier. More recently, I've started to own my anxiety and see how it drains me of energy. Taking one day at a time, is truly a beautiful way of living. Thanks for the inspiration, Leanne.
ReplyDeleteHi Corinne - I definitely think my planning and worrying propensity comes from being an oldest child - it's something that is innate to me, but I'm also a grown woman who can change things gradually and make my inner health a priority. Taking worry and anxiety out of the picture makes me a much happier and healthier person. :)
DeleteLeanne,
ReplyDeleteLoved this post...I am a planner and I started retirement almost 5 years ago by trying to disregard all my To Do Lists...I found that it did not work for me at all!! I still do my weekly and daily To Do lists which are usually chalk full but I have learned to be more flexible and not to adhere to them as strictly as I sued to when I was working...I found that for myself, I need to have that daily sense of accomplishment of doing something and I have found that I have never ever been bored in retirement...I am still working on my 2-3 Year To Do Lit which has turned into a 4-5 year To Do list pot retirement!! LOL!! My worrying and planning comes from always having been the Major Bread Winner , the one responsible for everything going on in the house and taking care of the kids and still working full time night shift....Joe constantly is yelling at me to slow down but what he does not realize that I have slowed down because I am doing everything I did without having to go to work on top of it!! I feel right now that this is the BEST stage of my life even though it is my End Stage....
Hugs,
Deb
Hi Deb - I know what it's like to be pressured with bread winning and home managing. I love that all of that is behind me now and I can just focus on the immediate present, instead of having a litany of things in my head to do. I've made a conscious choice to be more focused on the "now" and to not let future worries cloud my thoughts.
DeleteMy commitments are smaller and more flexible these days and I love the quiet of being home with small things to dabble in to stop any chance of becoming bored. This second half of life is proving to be such a joy for me too - and I LOVE retirement - best job ever! I'll be popping over to check out your Christmas decor as the month progresses - I'm not a Halloween person, so I've been waiting for your to get out your pretty things :)
So nice. I'm inspired by your quotes. :-)
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