"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow" (Anonymous) ...

Larry Manno

...  says a plaque on the wall next to my bed.  Every morning, I wake up and am greeted with this important piece of advice. Since we only get one chance at living a given day, I feel it is vital to make the most of that day and live it to our fullest potential. Here are some of my recommendations on how we could do this:

1)  Make the most of our talents: We each have our own talents.  It is up to each one of us to discover our own talents and use them to help make the world a better place.  We all have the potential to make a difference, no matter how small it is, in someone's life.  Try to do at least one good thing for someone everyday. 

2)  Think positive, stay happy: It is true that there are many issues in the world, and it is true that we each have our own problems.  However, instead of focusing on the negative, focus on the positive.  Focus on what we have instead of what we don't have, and thank God everyday for what we do have.  Always try to stay optimistic, and hope for a bright future.

3)  Learn from mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes, and we will all fail at some moment in our lives.  Welcome these times as learning experiences and possibilities to make promising changes.  Remember, when one door in life closes, several other doors open to new and exciting possibilities.

4)  Exercise almost daily, even for a minimum of 20 minutes.  Exercise can assist one in relieving stress, staying healthy, and feeling better about himself/herself, both physically and mentally.  I always like to exercise towards the end of the day.  This way, any stress that builds up is minimized before I go to sleep.

5)  Take time for yourself everyday.  I feel that this vital.  Take at least 30 minutes to decompress without the disturbance of any outside distractions.  Reflect on the day.  Think about what went well, and thank God for these moments.  Also, think about what did not go so well and reflect upon how you could make it better tomorrow.  Whether it was how you treated someone, a disappointment that occurred during the day, or an argument you had, think of how you could rectify the situation.  Remember, its never too late to do the right thing.

6)  Never be afraid to live.  If there is something you really want in life, make sure you go for it. If you have that gut feeling about something, pursue it.  Never be afraid of failing or being rejected.  Remember, you will never know if something will work unless you try it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I hope these generic pointers can assist you with making the most out of every moment of every day.  God Bless everyone during this final week of Lent!!

Larry Manno is a professor of Chemistry at Triton College in River Grove, IL. and a group exercise instructor at Loyola Center for Fitness in Maywood, IL.  He is also currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education at Walden University.  When he is not working or studying, Larry likes to watch movies, hang out with friends, go to amusement parks, relax at the beach, participate in outdoor activities, and experience new restaurants.