Regardless of who you are and your unique circumstances you can only really take things ODAAT – One Day At A Time.
The problem is, many of us are rushing and racing about trying to get so much done in the day we can feel overwhelmed.
It’s true that things don’t get done unless you do them but what doesn’t get done, doesn’t get done!
We can try and do too much and if we are doing that x7 days a week then it’s pretty obvious something has to give.
Being a ODAATer is a far more manageable way of being because it allows you to focus on there here and now.
Tomorrow will come when it is good and ready so take life as it comes.
This doesn’t mean we don’t plan for things because we do – that’s still important but plans can easily come undone.
Taking things just ODAAT makes you far more relaxed and happier. You just do what you do with the time that you have as you are living it and whatever happens happens.
You can focus on the little wins during the day and you will most likely win the day. It’s okay to take your time!
In a medical sense, you can’t rush things and being a ODAATer is a very sensible way of living.
For anyone that has been ill, and that’s all of us, then you will know that the body does what it can in the day that it is given. Even with lots of help and treatment, it’s only ever going to be ODAAT.
Cancer is definitely just ODAAT and sometimes that means just getting through the day as unscathed as possible. We can’t worry about the future.
In reality, even ODAAT is ambitious when you are going through cancer. My chemo was a horrendous experience and for me I just focused on getting through 5 minute blocks of time which I tried to build up into 10 and 15 mins blocks of little victories. I just focused on the next step and did what I could to get there and yes, there were plenty of setbacks.
Doing this meant I was taking things minute by minute and in some circumstances then being a OMAATer is absolutely the right thing to do.
In actual fact, I don’t know anyone that can live any differently to the ODAAT approach. You can’t realistically cram 2 days into one with making some sacrifices, concessions or mistakes. Life is only ever lived ODAAT.
Being a ODAATer is taking each day as it comes, no guilt attached.
Taking things day by day makes sense.
Don’t overthink it.
Let’s leave the last words on the matter to American cartoonist Charles Monroe “Sparky” Schulz:
Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time.
