While standing in a checkout line at Walmart, I noticed a recent People magazine cover page. It featured a quote from singer Celine Dion: “I live one day at a time.”
I understand Dion has been suffering from stiff-person syndrome symptoms for the last 17 years.
This is a very common philosophical phrase and there are songs with the same lyrics by Willie Nelson, Joan Baez and others. The same phrase was used once by a super actor, my favorite Michael J Fox who has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for about 30 years. Similarly, extreme pain or chronic pain may make certain people’s beautiful lives miserable, but they no doubt live on one day after another.
Almost two months back I wrote an article in The Dispatch about a mass uprising in Bangladesh. Since August 5th Bangladesh has become a country of total anarchy with no security of lives. The title of this column, ‘To live one day at a time,” becomes very appropriate in Bangladesh now. A gentleman named Tofazzal Hussain was given a full meal like the Last Supper and then was mass-beaten mercilessly to death for no genuine reasons by the university students, where once I was a student and also a teacher. Many more incidents occurred and are occurring in Bangladesh.
Most recently, Alabama executed an inmate with nitrogen gas. Is it less painful? I read it takes at least five minutes for the last breath. There were also reports that a person died while in sleep – the best and painless death, maybe.
Life is so uncertain, and death appears in many forms.
I am certain that Generation Z never considers this phrase but older generations likely do.
Obviously, there are benefits of thinking of living one day at a time. If you believe long term living is uncertain, then you will try to do good things everyday so that you can feel good and you can smile daily. You wouldn’t be interested in lying, becoming dishonest in dealing with money and your properties.
However, there is another side too. You will not feel comfortable or enthusiastic in taking any long-term projects of your own.
On the other hand, psychologists think otherwise. A psychologist at Harvard and the author of “Mindfulness,” Dr. Ellen Langer says, “Everyone agrees it’s important to live in the moment, but the problem is how.” According to University of Pennsylvania psychologist Stephen Schueller, “Being present-minded takes away some of that self-evaluation and getting lost in your mind — and in the mind is where we make the evaluations that beat us up.” In addition, some people think living one day at a time can improve mental health and make life more manageable. I am sure senior citizens feel the same way as this following song of Lynda Randle:
One day at a time, sweet Jesus
Thats all I’m asking of You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What I have to do
Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
God help me today
Show me the way
One day at a time
Jesus teaches us about living one day at a time in Matthew 6:34.
Jimmy Carter, America’s oldest living president turned 100. I am assuming he is also thinking of living one day at a time.
Finally, I would like to end this column citing the quote of Abraham Lincoln
“The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. He writes occasional column in the Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. His email address is [email protected].
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
