I have a daily task which shows up on my BlackBerry every day that reads, "How did you make today count?" That one question stares me in the face every evening. That one question forces me to think back over the events of the day and be honest about the way I used a very special gift. That one question helps me focus and compare how my day was spent in contrast to the vision I have for the future.
I have for some time adopted the practice of noting on my calendar the answer to that question. For me, it is sort of a mini-diary. It also serves as a compass.
How did you make today count? It is a sobering question indeed, at least for me. Perhaps the knowledge that I am going to have to answer that question when the day ends works on my subconscious from the time the day begins.
As you read this post, I invite you to join me in answering this question for yourself:
How did you make today count?
4 comments:
I really like the idea of asking myself that question. Most days, I have great responses for how I made the day count.
The other question I often ask myself when I put my head on my pillow is, "Do you like yourself?" "Do you like who you are, and do you like your actions."
If the answer is ever "no" I don't like myself, then I just resolve to either fix it, or do better the next day.
Thanks for the reminder.
Excellent suggestion. My only contribution would be a follow-up, how can we make tomorrow count?
Janice,
I think you make a great point and provide food for thought. My can often fool others, but we can't fool ourselves. Liking who we are is so closely linked to liking the decisions we have made. If we are truly happy with those decisions on a day-in-day-out basis, I think it a pretty good barometer of how others, over the long haul, will feel about those decisions.
-Frank
Byron,
What an outstanding follow-up! I am going to give you my thoughts in two parts--one now, and then I am going to come back in several months with the second part.
Today is all we have. More precisely, this moment is all we have. So, if we are going to look at making tomorrow count, preparing for tomorrow today is the key. The first think I am going to tackle tomorrow at the office is laying in the middle of desk right now. I have the first several items I want to accomplish on my task list sitting right at the top of the list, and I will get those handled before even thinking about looking at e-mail. Getting the day off to a good start begins before the day begins.
That's "Part One" of the answer. "Part Two" of how to make tomorrow count deals with yesterday. To phrase it slightly differently, part of making tomorrows (plural) count deals with yesterdays (also plural). More on this at a later time. Thanks for your insight.
-Frank
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