Making wise use of our time is one of the best habits we can develop.
This can seem especially difficult when we feel as though time keeps accelerating as we grow older.
As we age, the days and weeks fly by so quickly that it seems like we are always either just getting up or just going to bed.
It doesn’t take long to realize that what once seemed unlimited is actually a very finite resource that can be squandered if we’re not careful.
Time management is certainly a useful skill but it’s not enough by itself.
We also need to learn to live each day with enthusiasm.
Long ago, a seasoned Japanese samurai advised the younger samurai to start each day by contemplating their own deaths. This isn’t as morbid as it sounds.
It was a reminder that they could not take for granted that there would be a tomorrow and to avoid becoming careless.
To put that into terms that better fit our world, it means recognizing that, if today was our last day of life, the minor irritations like being stuck in traffic really don’t amount to much.
We’d also likely treat people better if we knew this was our last day of life.
Keeping things in perspective and learning to live with enthusiasm in the present will help us to find happiness in what we have.
Living Each Day with Enthusiasm