Say yes to life

There is a strange habit we have as human beings.

We spend an extraordinary amount of time arguing with reality.

Wishing something hadn’t happened.

Wishing someone had behaved differently.

Wishing we were younger.

Richer.

Somewhere else.

Living a different life.

As though being unhappy about what already exists might somehow make it disappear.

But reality is remarkably indifferent to our objections.

The rain continues falling whether we complain about it or not.

Yesterday remains exactly as it was.

And the present moment continues passing while we’re busy wishing it were different.

There is an enormous freedom in understanding this.

Accepting reality doesn’t mean approving of everything that happens.

It means seeing things clearly enough to respond wisely.

You can accept that something has happened and still decide to change what happens next.

You can accept that you’ve made a mistake and use what you’ve learned to make a better decision.

You can accept that life is uncertain and still be excited about the possibilities.

In fact, the moment you stop arguing with what is, you become free to do something about what could be.

Which brings us to today’s lesson.

Begin with reality. Then make something good from it.

When things go wrong, take a moment.

Accept what’s happened.

Ask yourself what can be learned.

Then decide what to do next.

When plans change, look for new possibilities.

When you discover you’re wrong, be grateful you’ve learned something.

When life gives you something beautiful, stop long enough to enjoy it.

And when you find yourself in an ordinary moment, remember that it doesn’t need to become something extraordinary to deserve your attention.

This moment is part of your life.

So be here for it.

Listen when someone speaks.

Taste your food.

Feel the air when you walk outside.

Look around occasionally and remember where you are.

You are alive.

And as long as you are alive, there is something you can do with the moment in front of you.

Something useful.

Something kind.

Something worthwhile.

You don’t need to agree with everything life brings you.

You don’t need to enjoy every experience.

You only need to stop demanding that life be different before you allow yourself to participate in it.

Because there is one thing every great life has in common.

It was lived in the real world.

Not in the past that could have been.

Not in the future that might arrive.

But here.

In ordinary moments.

With imperfect circumstances.

By people who decided to make the best of what was actually in front of them.

You cannot live yesterday again.

You cannot live tomorrow yet.

But you can do something wonderful with today.

And perhaps that is the most important reason to say yes to life.

Because this moment is the only place where you can actually live it.