One day while in the checkout line at a local Safeway, I noticed that the cashier displayed several buttons on her store apron. As she rang up my purchase, I read one that said - “If you’re not happy today, what day are you waiting for?” 

That button reminded me of when I started listening to Wayne Dyer over 25 years ago.  I remember him talking about what he called “futurizing.” He suggested that many of us are waiting to be happy based on “when” something might happen in the future, versus being happy today.

Chances are you’ve used this concept before. At some point in your life you’ve probably said, “I’ll be happy when__________.” It’s not unusual, but it’s based on two presumptions. That happiness can’t occur right now, and that there actually is a future.

Something else that Wayne Dyer said is, “The future is guaranteed to no one.” He’s right. There isn’t anyone who has that guarantee. Now, I’m not an unhopeful person, nor opposed to planning. In fact, I insist on it. But when you are living “when,” you’re not living now, which is all you really have.

On a wall in my office I have several things written down that I’ve gathered over the years. One is, “What must I do in my life before I die?” “Start NOW.”

Yes, successful people plan for the future, but they take action now. So, if you aren’t happy today, what day are you waiting for?