I’m not much of an impulse shopper. Instead, I have a tendency to overthink purchases. I like to research things before I buy them, and I’m always looking for a discount. I almost never buy things on the spot. So when I saw a shirt I liked at a runner’s expo, my first thought was not to buy it. However, as I continued to wander around the various booths, I couldn’t get the words on the shirt out of my head: “There will come a day when I cannot do this. Today is not that day.”
As you’ve probably already deducted from the photo above, I went back and purchased the shirt. Maybe this shirt doesn’t speak to you, but it does to me. As a runner, it reminds me to give my best effort even when I don’t feel like it. It’s a blessing to be well enough to lace up my shoes and go for a run. I don’t want to take that for granted.
But, the message on the shirt extends beyond running. It’s easy to forget that life is fragile and full of change. It’s tempting to deceive ourselves into thinking that our lives will be the same tomorrow as they are today, that we are not bound by aging bodies and minds. This can lead to an apathetic attitude. Instead of seizing opportunities, we let them pass us by, convinced there’s plenty of time later. What if there isn’t?
Not only does this shirt remind me about life’s instabilities, it affirms that I can take action. My life on Earth may be fleeting, but it’s not over. Even if I can’t do today what I could easily do before, I can do something. I can still choose to engage in life, set goals, and challenge myself to learn, grow, and share, and take a step forward instead of just sitting down.
Whatever obstacles you’re facing, don’t let them cloud your vision. Today is not the day to worry about what you can’t do or what the days ahead may bring. Concentrate on the things you can do, and do them with gusto. Enjoy your day!
