Today's Day

[Jim T]

One day a young person visiting Plum Village said, “Why not declare
today as ‘Today’s Day’?” And all the children agreed that we should
celebrate today and call it “Today’s Day.”

“On this day, Today’s Day, we don’t think about yesterday, we don’t
think about tomorrow, we only think about today. Today’s Day is when
we live happily in the present moment. When we eat, we know that we
are eating. When we drink water, we are aware that it is water that
we are drinking. When we walk, we really enjoy each step. When we
play, we are really present in our play.

“Today is a wonderful day. It is the most wonderful day. That does
not mean that yesterday was not wonderful. But yesterday is already
gone. It does not mean that tomorrow will be wonderful. But tomorrow
is not yet here. Today is the only day available to us, today, and we
can take good care of it. That is why today is so important - the
most important day of our lives.

“So each morning when you wake up, decide to make that day the most
important day. Before you go off to school, sit or lie down, breathe
slowly in and out for a few minutes, enjoy your in-breath, enjoy your
out-breath, and smile. You are here. You are content. You are
peaceful. This is a wonderful way to begin a day.

“Try to keep this spirit alive all day. Remember to go back to your
breath, remember to look at people with loving kindness, remember to
smile and be happy with the gift of life. Have a good day today.
This is not only a wish. This is a practice.”