“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today – today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.”

– Babatunde Olatunji, Nigerian drummer and social activist

With the holiday season upon us, this little quote seems timely. I’m not big on standing in long lines, even if it is to get a great bargain – and most of my readers know that a great gift for me is a remarkable book, to learn something new, or to have a unique experience.

Fun reflections on the past, and inspiring thoughts about the future, are natural for most of us. However, this quote suggests that we work on being fully present to the “nows” that occur every day.

Exercise:

Purchase a notebook or journal and name it your “now” notebook. Each evening, capture how you lived each day by being fully present to the people, events and opportunities that occur.

Before retiring, consider saying a little prayer that you get to open another wonderful present tomorrow.