Things don't always go as planned. That's the nature of life. It's important to roll with the punches and just plain chill out sometimes.
Yet studies have shown that goal-setting and looking to the future are invaluable. If you have no goals in life, there's a good chance you won't reach them. Some people make a "bucket list" and cross off the accomplishments one by one.
We know that living in the past is useless. You can't change what has already occurred. "The only way in which we can redeem our time is by making the most of that which remains." (Ellen G. White)
What about living in the moment vs. living in the future? We can get so caught up in planning for or worrying about the future that we forget to live right now!
The future arrives an hour at a time. Now is the time to live, smile, laugh, and make dreams come true. Put your goals and dreams into action.
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Sure there's plenty to be unhappy about, but why dwell on the negative. Look on the bright side -- look on God's side. There's a song that goes, "I'm on the happy side of life. With Jesus as my Savior, I've found the way."
Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." He doesn't say that only good things will happen, but that even difficult experiences can be used in God's overall plan for good.
Throughout the journey of life, there are ups and downs, highs and lows.
Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days you are the statue. What a difference it would make in our lives if we would all play the "Glad Game" like Pollyanna. Each one of us has much to be thankful for, including being alive!
We can step forward everyday toward our goals, in spite of occasional backward steps. The greatest failure is not to try.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you don't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover." (Mark Twain)
I can really relate to this illustration since I come from a boating family. You won't discover anything new if you stay tied up to the dock. Ships were designed to sail.
Personally speaking, I've had some of the most amazing experiences when I explore and try something new. How could I ever forget being eye to eye with a humpback whale or scuba diving at night with manta rays.
Whether it's traveling or a daytrip, eating out or cooking in, learning or teaching, work or play, I must say that life is a grand adventure. I only wish there were more hours in a day. Oh, what I could do with a 29-hour day!
In a magazine advertisement, there is a photo of writing in the sand with a wave just about to erase the words. It says, "I am your idea. One day you'll look for me and I'll be gone." The ad goes on to say, "It's not how many ideas you have. It's how many you make happen."
A good idea not acted upon is no better than no idea at all. God wants to be a part of our ideas, our dreams and our lives. "Trust in the Lord and do good ... Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalms 37:3-4)
Enjoy each moment. Set some goals for yourself. Dream a little. Dream a lot. Then make them happen ...
Kerry Scott Baldwin is an elder of the Pacific Union College Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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