Living One Day at a Time

As I talked the other day in the hospital with our member Ben Bailey about the diagnosis of cancer he had just received, we talked about how he accepts that, as he said, “It is what it is.” I admired Ben’s attitude and determination to accept and make the best of his days. Then I ran across this piece on seeking to live right each day. It is from a much-loved pope.

Do you remember when the Romans Catholic Church began to change after Vatican II back in the 60s and 70s? The Pope who led the change was Pope John XXIII. He put together what he called his Ten Commandments for Today. They are what he wanted for himself in his daily life:

1) Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2) Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3) Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world buy also in this one.

4) Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5) Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6) Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7) Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

8) Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9) Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world

10) Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours, I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

I think this list will help anyone who wants to live life with love, joy, and peace one day at a time.