因为我很感激现在

Source: The Present by Spencer Johnson, M.D.

QR: “我们都是孤独地存在。。而不同的是。。你孤独的这么自在”
ME: 我可以如此自在，因为我很感激现在。。。

Yes I’m proud of this line though initially when I created it, it wasn’t meant to counter you. It was because I happen to read The Present by Spencer Johnson, M.D (to correct your blog). So when you suddenly praised me that I know how to counter, I was amused as it was just an after thought feeling. And yesterday, when you told me your friend like it too, I really burst out laughing haha. Feels like I hit jackpot without knowing…

Anyway there is another reason why I chose a Chinese title, but I digress. And yes I agree I have indeed 走火入魔. It can’t be help because I tend to go extremes. Everyday I lead my life thanking GA for every single simple pleasure. I even gave my family each a handwritten letter to express my thanks (and may their birthday wishes come true). I know God has given my mum an answer. I will just be thankful for whatever God decrees. Oh and I realized I rarely thank my brother in the blog haha.. because I was writing out all the thanks that I blogged before of which I concluded I thanked my dad most often. So today, I shall thank my brother for helping me collect my hard disk (hmm I do hope he will not forget about it though haha).

Ever since my exams ended, I had been lost. I rarely came online and even if I do, I don’t have the mood to chat. In fact I have also lost momentum in blogging as I spend most of my time reading and watching shows thus decreasing the time to blog. But it amused me when some people suddenly express surprise that I’m finally online. “To let you guys find me”, is what I usually reply. Maybe I’m hiding but other than staying reclusive, I really don’t know how else to face the problem. I can only keep immersing myself in books and shows, to find out what I am supposed to know.

It is through one those chances that The Present came into sight. I had been searching for another Mitch Albom’s book but was at the wrong shelf. And I passed by this book 3 times before deciding to finally check it out. When I realized is the author of “Who Moved My Cheese?” , I decided to borrow it.

(Sidetrack a bit, I realized the post on Change was written in 2005 before I took my Masters. Somehow I feel that nothing changed and yet everything changed. And that I’m still lazy to draft my commencement interview script.. Maybe is the doubt that I might not graduate which makes me lazy to book my gown and draft my script. SIGH!)

Anyway here are the pointers obtained from the book.

You already know what the present is.
You already know where to find it.
And you already know how it can make you happy and successful.
You knew it best when you were younger.
You have simply forgotten.

The present is not the past
And it is not the future.
The present is
The present moment!
The present is
Now!

Even in the most difficult situations,
When you focus on what is right in the present moment,
It makes you happier,
And gives you the needed energy and confidence to deal with what is wrong.

Being in the present means tuning out distractions
And paying attention to what is important, now.
You create your own present
By what you give your attention to.

It is hard to let go of the past I you have not learned from the past.
As soon as you learn and let go
You improve the present.

Anytime you are unhappy in the present
Or feeling unsuccessful,
It is time to learn from the past
Or plan for the future.

Look at what happened in the past.
Learn something valuable from it.
Use what you learn to improve the present.

You cannot change the past,
But you can learn from it.
When the same situation arises,
You can do things differently
And enjoy a more successful present.

No one can predict or control the future.
However, the more you plan for what you want to see happen,
The less anxious you are in the present,
And the more the future is known to you.

Picture what a wonderful future would be like.
Create a realistic plan to help it happen.
Put your plan into action in the present.

How you respond depends upon your purpose.
When you want to be happy and more successful
It is time to be in the present moment.
When you want the present to be better than the past
It is time to learn from the past.
When you want the future to be better than the present
It is time to plan for the future.
When you live and work with purpose,
And respond to what is important now,
You are more able to lead, manage, support, befriend, and love.

Success is becoming who you are capable of being.
And progressing toward worthwhile goals.
Each of us defines for ourselves
What it means to be successful.

Three ways to use your present moments:

1. Be in the Present.
When you want to be happy and successful:
- Focus on on what is right now.
- Use your purpose to respond to what is important now.

2. Learn from the Past.
When you want to make the present better than the past:
- Look at what happened in the past.
- Learn something valuable from it.
- Do things differently in the present.

3. Plan for the Future.
When you want to make the future better than the present:
- See what a wonderful future would look like.
- Make plans to help it happen.
- Put your plan into action in the present.