One of the greatest human fallacies is the wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes, they say. Tomorrow never dies, if you ask Mr. Bond. But tomorrow is just too far away. There are so many conflicting beliefs which leave me drained everyday. For instance, one school of thought glorifies delaying gratification, which basically means pushing pleasure for later. Delaying the sweet indulgences, overcoming your impulses and passion, and striving to be great in the long run. This thinking often goes into believing in tomorrow. That tomorrow will be a better day, that tomorrow will make everything okay. This shifting of the blame on tomorrow is not healthy. Excessive belief in tomorrow takes away from the present.
The present is all we have. We don’t have so much control over tomorrow. In fact not fixing today because tomorrow will be better is what makes us feel like we are on a treadmill of hope and despair. We hope for better, but we are met with despair. This treadmill of despair is further perpetuated by the age-old noble idea of sacrificing today for a better tomorrow. These ideas hide the nuances of what it goes into shaping tomorrow. This blind hope that the next dawn will bring promises, takes away from the idea that every morning is a fresh beginning. It simply robs it of all essence of meaning and control.
Living as if there is no tomorrow is also dangerous. It makes you reckless and impulsive. You end up shooting your shot too soon. Virtues of patience lose all meaning. Where does one draw the line? I think having long term outlook for dreams is good, and also necessary. But having a short term outlook for actions is important. Focussing on the present is necessary because once the moment passes, it is hard to replicate it. Being present in every moment is important. I have regretted passing off so many moments. Fresh memories remain but regret and a tinge of guilt haunt me everyday.
Some moments are very precious but their true value is only felt in the future. It’s like that the quote from the Office. Good old days are only to be enjoyed, until they pass and become a distant happy memory. It’s just that it’s easier to enjoy them if you treat all moments as if they won’t ever return. It’s a good thing therefore to recognise the power of now, and treat every moment with the same objectivity knowing fully well that it’s not going to repeat. Life offers second chances, but that’s for the mistakes – not for the happy moments. Those only come once. Live them to the fullest.
