Tomorrow will bring its own assignment.
You do not have to drag tomorrow’s entire workload into today’s living room.
Complete today’s portion.
Then put it down.
We go to bed and awaken to another day, often without giving the miracle a second thought.
We expect tomorrow—and we should greet it with faith, gratitude and appreciation.
Children may awaken excited about what the day could bring.
Adults awaken and immediately begin reviewing appointments, bills, responsibilities and the location of their coffee.
Somewhere along the way, we can become so serious, ambitious or weary that we lose the journey’s enjoyment.
Without a pause, the problem begins running alongside us.
Then it climbs onto our back.
Eventually, we are carrying a burden that learned how to carry us.
A BREAK IN BETWEEN
We all have limits.
Work, eating, arguing, winning, losing, pleasure, sorrow and responsibility each require a proper portion.
The end of a day offers a natural boundary—a place to stop, rest and allow the nervous system, body and mind to recover.
Moderation is no myth.
It is a refuge.
CYCLES AND TURNS
Life moves through cycles.
Morning receives its turn.
Afternoon follows.
Evening closes the day.
Seasons demonstrate activity, change, release and rest.
Not everything must bloom continuously.
Some things need darkness, stillness and time beneath the surface.
Humans do too.
THE POSITIVES OF A TURN
Pleasure, emotional satisfaction, relationships, opportunity, growth and excitement all receive moments with us.
These experiences bookmark a day with something worth remembering.
But even a celebration must eventually end.
The honeymoon returns home.
The music stops.
The guests leave.
Someone looks at the kitchen.
Every pleasure requires a boundary if it is to remain a pleasure.
THE NEGATIVES OF A TURN
Pain, sorrow, loss, persecution and abuse can make us ask:
“When will this end?”
“How much can I stand?”
A night’s rest may provide temporary relief and renewed strength, but serious grief, illness, danger or abuse does not necessarily end when the sun goes down.
Some burdens require medical care, counseling, protection, legal assistance, trusted support or a safe exit.
Rest is valuable.
Help may also be necessary.
WHEN THE NATURAL FLOW IS IN CHARGE
Life brings expected and unexpected turns.
We may travel from good to difficult, difficult to better—or somewhere in between.
Our task is to notice what has arrived and navigate it with the wisdom available.
Acceptance does not mean passivity.
It means seeing the present clearly before deciding what belongs next.
INTERFERING WITH THE FLOW
Sometimes we add unnecessary suffering to an already difficult situation.
We replay the argument.
Feed the resentment.
Ignore the warning.
Continue working after usefulness has packed up and gone home.
The phrase “we can be our own worst enemy” often describes the consequences of overdoing, underdoing or refusing to stop.
You may not control everything happening.
But stopping what makes matters worse can become the first improvement.
HOW WE INTERFERE
Ambition, vanity, selfishness, greed and unchecked desire can continue long after their reasonable portion has been served.
Then circumstances combine with our choices and produce a nightmare requiring us to ask:
“How did I get into this?”
Whatever “this” happens to be.
Sometimes the honest answer is:
“One unnecessary step at a time.”
The encouraging answer is that another direction can also begin one step at a time.
YOUR TURN AND YOUR PART
We are not required to control the whole world.
We are responsible for the part placed within our reach.
Logic, reasoning, common sense, conscience and intuition help us participate in outcomes.
They are not perfect or infallible, but they give us tools for examining our choices.
Your role matters.
It does not have to become every role.
PORTION CONTROL
Portion control applies to more than food.
How much work belongs today?
How much worry?
How much ambition?
How much argument?
How much responsibility is actually yours?
Faith and humility help us accept that some things remain beyond our command.
Wanting more than today can reasonably hold may cause tomorrow to arrive already exhausted.
EVERYTHING GETS A TURN
Countless visible and invisible systems were operating before we arrived.
We joined life already in progress.
We receive a turn to participate, learn, build, serve and rest.
Our turn is valuable because it is limited.
Use it—but do not abuse it.
BUILD ON A SOLID FOUNDATION
Truth, fairness, love and integrity provide steadier foundations than greed, manipulation or excess.
A strong foundation does not guarantee immunity from hardship.
It gives us somewhere firm to stand when hardship arrives.
That is the difference.
PAUSE FOR CAUSE
Before adding more to today, ask:
- Is this necessary now?
- Am I improving the situation or feeding it?
- What portion actually belongs to me?
- What can wait until tomorrow?
- Do I need rest—or outside help?
- What was sufficient for this day?
PEARLS INSIGHT
Enough is not failure.
Enough is the point where today’s portion has been faithfully received, used and released.
RICHIE SPEAKS
Do what belongs to today.
Enjoy what visits.
Learn from what challenges you.
Stop adding misery to difficulty.
Rest when your portion is complete.
Tomorrow, if given, will bring another turn.
For now:
Sufficient this day—no more, no less.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
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