Present moment

Roman poet Horace's 'Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero' is a powerful reminder of the importance of seizing the day and not relying too much on the future. Translated to 'Seize the day, put as little trust as possible in the future', this quote encourages us to live in the present moment and make the most of it. Horace emphasises the fleeting nature of time and warns against procrastination and complacency.

Kabir also said the same thing in one of his dohas: Kal karey so aaj kar, aaj karey so ab/ Pal mein pralay hoyegi, bahuri karega kab. Existential philosophy also states that this very moment is the only moment that is yours. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. So, don't procrastinate. We cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. Procrastination steals time. Humans tend to put things off because it's easier to resist at the beginning than at the end. Rumi says, 'Taz een lamha meen az haamil shuvad' - the next moment is forever in the womb of incertitude. The future depends on what we do today. Real generosity towards the future lies in giving all to the present.

It's being here now that's important. There's no past, and there's no future. Time is a misleading thing. All there ever is, is the now. We can gain experience from the past, but we can't relive it; and we can hope for the future, but we don't know if there is one. Eckhart Tolle says, 'Realise deeply that the present moment is all you have.'