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1. Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true , that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.
2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.
3. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.
4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways; I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don't want to do as William James suggests, just for exercise.
6. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.
7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests, hurry and indecision.
9. Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. In this half hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.
10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.
If we want to develop a mental attitude that will bring us peace and happiness, here is Rule #1:
Think and act cheerfully, and you will feel cheerful.
Written by Sybil F. Partridge 1916 and printed in
"How To Stop Worrying, And Start Living" by Dale Carnegie, 1951
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I wanted to leave you this post based on your information. I have a piece of sheet music written by a woman named Jane Bingham Abbott called Just for To Day. She gives credit(actually it says "authentically traced) to Miss Sibyl F. Partridge of Liverpool England. The song is written in 1894 so the poem MUST be older than that. I am not sure if this information will help you track down exactly who Sibyl (how its spelled on this music) F. Partridge is. ps. this song is a duet, soprano in A flat, alto in F. Below are the Sheet music Lyrics:
Lord, for tomorrow and its needs, I do not pray;
Keep me, my God from stain of sin, Just for Today;
Let me no wrond or idle word Unthinking say;
Set Thou a seal upon my lips, Just for Today.
In Pain and sorrow's cleansing fires, Brief be my stay;
oh, bid me if to lay i die, come home to day;
So for tomorrow and its needs, I do not pray,
But Keep me, guide me, love me Lord; Just for Today.
Let me both diligently work, and duly pray;
let me be kind in word and deed, Just for today;
Let me in season, Lord, be grave, in season gay;
Let me be faithful to Thy grace, Just for today.
In pain and sorrow's cleansing fires, Brief be my stay;
Oh, take me in thy loving arms lest I should stray,
So for tomorrow and its needs, I do not pray,
But keep me, guide me, love me Lord, Just for Today.
If you have any information on Jane Bingham Abbott circa 1894 please let me know what you have. Im trying to curate this sheet music and get it sent to the right museum but I want to learn as much about it as I possibly can first!!
Thank you!
Jen Majewski
Peace, Love, and light,
Amber Vivianna Moonstone