That sounds too simple to be life-changing, doesn't it?
I thought so, too, until I made up my mind to try it.
At the time I was a frazzled young mother. I never missed one syndicated column in our daily newspapers, "The Worry Clinic," written by a Dr. George Crane.
I knew nothing about "Dr. Crane" except what the tiny blurb at the bottom stated, that he was a licensed, professional counselor.
It impressed me that he avoided throwing around psychiatric and medical terminology. I didn't agree with everything he wrote, but often his column gave me insights and skills I needed.
"Just for today"
One day Dr. Crane's column appeared as shown below with this plan to make each day better.
A plan. Yesss!
I dreamed of instant transformation, but this plan laid out one manageable step at a time. Simple enough, right?
I confess, like a toddler just learning to walk, I "fell down" often.
I chose mornings as my proving ground. Each day I would be cheerful and lively, even on dark mornings when I yearned to go back to bed.
Before long I realized by the time everyone got launched for the day what I felt inside matched the words I spoke and I felt good about life.
Did I change? Yes. Could I see the effect it had on my family and people around me?
Without a doubt.
Finding this reprint felt like finding a lost friend
Not long ago I was Googling for something else and this piece popped up.
My mind flashed back to the first time I read these words in our newspaper--and reread it two or three times. Then I taped it to my kitchen cupboard door.
After that I read it at least once a day, always asking God to help me stick with it.
One day at a time I kept at it and began to notice myself feeling more calm, more settled. More positive about my life, even though the lively family hubbub went on as usual.
Wisdom that still rings true
This is said to be a reprint of Dr. Crane's original piece, penned almost a century ago. Because of many requests it reappeared in his column periodically over the years.
JUST FOR TODAY
Here are ten resolutions to make when you awake in the morning.
They are Just for One Day. Think of them not as a life task but as a day’s work.
These things will give you pleasure. Yet they require will power. You don’t need resolutions to do what is easy.
1. Just for Today, I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life-problem at once. I can do some things for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
2. Just for Today, I will be Happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Happiness is from Within; it is not a matter of Externals.
3. Just for Today, I will Adjust myself to what Is, and not try to Adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come, and fit myself to them.
4. Just for Today, I will take care of my Body. I will exercise it, care for it, and nourish it, and not abuse it nor neglect it; so that it will be a perfect machine for my will.
5. Just for Today, I will try to strengthen my mind, I will study. I will learn something useful, I will not be a mental loafer all day. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
6. Just for Today, I will exercise my Soul. In three ways, to wit:
(a) I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. If anybody knows of it, it will not count.
(b) I will do at least two things I don’t want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.
(c) I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt. They may be hurt, but Today I will not show it.
7. Just for To-day, I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with flattery, criticize not one bit nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate nor improve anybody.
8. Just for Today, I will have a Programme. I will write down just what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I’ll have it. It will save me from the two pests, Hurry and Indecision.
9. Just for Today, I will have a quiet half hour, all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, some time, I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective to my life.
10. Just for Today, I will be Unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to be Happy, to enjoy what is Beautiful, to love and to believe that those I love love me.
(Written by Dr. George Crane in 1921)
If I said I ever mastered this list I would be lying
Yet it still provides a checklist of how I want to live and look at life.
I suspect I'm not the only person who feels that way, or else why would his words still be around?
As always, we can find the same truths in the Bible, as in Psalm 118:24 (ESV.)
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Rejoicing and being glad is where we start. Then as we add in Dr. Crane's principles, one by one, our tomorrows can't help being happier.
Growing, too,
Lenore
