You Only Live Once

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Like the saying goes, You Only Live Once, and it’s true although different people gives different definition of this saying. Some may live with that saying thinking that since we only live once, we do random things and rush head on to something that may be dangerous or at times stupid or it may be someone who thinks that I only have One Life and I have to value it and live safely and happily.

Now, that is not the topic I’m going to talk about that. What I wanted to discuss is how opportunities come and go into our lives daily and why we should seize them.

Opportunities, Where art thou?

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”The ideal never comes. Today is ideal for him who makes it so.”

-Horatio Dresser

In this quote I believe that Horatio Dresser meant was that we should live today, no matter how un-ideal or bad we think the situation may be. I think what he meant with this “Ideal” is when we say *”I’ll do this when ... (insert reason here).” Or the weather is not so good and we end up just laying there in bed. It is up to us how we could turn this ”bad” situations into our own leverage and grabbing the chance while it is still there.

We shouldn’t let what we have within our grasp today be lost just because we are wondering what are the ”What ifs?” In the future and the fear of experiences from the past. Many people lose these opportunities because at times we fail to notice them and when chances are already in our hands.

Do it TODAY, not TOMORROW!

”There is no moment like the present. The man who will not execute his resolutions when they are fresh on him can have no hop from them afterwards; for they will be dissipated, lost, and perished in the hurry and scurry of the world, or sunk in the slough of indolence.”

-Marie Edgeworth

The Japanese people are well known for this saying; they work and live as if there will be no tomorrow. Our day should not start in Neutral, meaning we shouldn’t start the day without plans and just going with the flow or what we Filipino’s commonly say ”Bahala na si Batman”(“It’s up to Batman”) as if a fictional character can do something to help us out.

(English Translation: Robin: "Leave it to Batman", Batman: "Mother*****, me again!")
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We should realize the value of today, as everyday is something which we could not take back in the future. The Future that we dream for begins today, everything we do today makes up for the future. We should not live as if we have all the days left to do what should be done today, as tomorrow is something which is “unknown”.

”Never Do tomorrow what you can DO TODAY as Procrastination is the Thief of Time.”

Remember we came into this world in a second, and we would also be gone from this world any day in a few seconds. I’ve read this passage somewhere before and it somehow hit something within me and saying that “that’s true”, we came randomly in this world and we would leave this world randomly as well, no one knows when it is our time to go.

The seeds of Tomorrow

”All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds that we plant today”
And alternately “We reap what we saw.”

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Like Henry Sy, a Chinese-Filipino Millionaire who is the owner of SM supermalls and Investments, which is one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates. He started off by starting a small footwear shop after saving enough money. And look at his achievements in life today; he has topped the Forbes Philippines Richest list for years.

It was due to his efforts and knowing the importance of the days when he was only running his small footwear shop before. And another best example and I know all of us could relate to is us Steemians, we seize this opportunity for different reasons (some for developing their skills, for fun, or for the chance to earn, etcetera.), all hoping and aiming for a better disposition in the future.

We cannot expect a stone to become a diamond if it is not polished daily. One could not expect to be rich when you did not even put a single coin into you bank or piggy bank. Even the people who wins the lottery grabbed the opportunity to place their bet on that day and with the help of ”lady luck”.

So what is the importance in living our lives today?

In knowing the importance of Today, we will be well lived, and it will prepare us for both the opportunities and obstacles of tomorrow. And since we do only have one life, it's best we live it well and not living in regrets for the opportunities that we did not grasp.

Thank you so much for reading!

-nickeychan