ON HERE AND NOW
 

I say, each and every day,
to all, have a GREAT NOW,
I assume that everyone does,
for no one ever asks "HOW?"

And yet, as I observe,
each and every day,
I realize that most don't,
yet, they don't ever say.

Which brings us to here,
which leads straight to now,
I will attempt to explain,
more about that mysterious HOW.

We each have a year,
containing 365 different days,
it is time, energy and life,
to spend in so many, various ways.

My hour has 60 minutes,
I'm given the same amount as you,
we all have 100 percent possible,
we all decide just what we want to do.

What percent of your here and now,
is spent in needless worry,
then, finding yourself running late,
how much is spent in a hurry ?

What percent of your here and now,
is spent reliving some yesterday,
wishing you could live it over,
changing something in some way ?

What percent of your here and now,
is spent planning some tomorrow,
reflecting on another planned event,
that perhaps resulted in sorrow ?

What percent of your here and now,
are you alive and aware,
where, you are really yourself,
full of love with happiness to share ?

What percent of your here and now,
is filled with anxiety and fear,
with doubting and mistrust,
of anyone and anything that is near ?

What percent of your here and now,
do you waste or throw away,
doing such things, as if they helped,
such as to wish, hope or to pray ?

Do you realize and know,
that all of the remembering,
all of the planning,
all of the needless worry,
all of the wishing,
and all of the hoping,
makes for a depleted now ?

For, though it may be a yesterday,
or, of some day in the future,
the thought, time and energy,
are being spent right now and here.

Time, yes precious time,
it ticks away for us all,
none can be captured,
none can be replayed,
none can be saved,
none can be reversed.

For even as we watch a movie,
even as we look at the pictures,
even as we listen to the recordings,
even when we see ourselves "there,"
we do it all in the present,
we do it all in the here and the now.

When you figure what remains,
from each hour that you live,
when you subtract all the abstract,
you may catch what I'm trying to give.

Of here and now,
it comes but one single time,
you choose how to spend yours,
and I'll choose for mine.

Each moment is so different,
yet, each is so much the same,
we pick and choose our priorities,
perhaps we'll find fortune and fame.

Of here and now,
a price is paid for each,
it's nothing you can ever buy,
it's nothing I could ever teach.

If you feel the purpose of now,
is to plan and prepare,
for what comes next or later,
of what you choose, I don't care.

The higher your percentage,
of being now and here,
the more enjoyment you'll encounter,
you'll get more from your years.

For what is really you,
is all that is in your mind,
and you'll learn that happiness,
is something you will never find.

The happy in your life,
is all contained within,
it's what you want and make,
you can choose to lose, or to win.

If you have the faith,
then, you have no need to cling,
for, there's nothing to hang on to,
for, nature recycles everything.

Time, oh precious time,
get from it all that you're able,
live each precious second with happy,
love the here and the now.
 

©Written by: Ed Kassirer
May 31, 2004