<<The Present>> - A Precious Gift to The World
The first book through which I got to know Dr. Spencer Johnson. I was struggling with my task, and the words on the cover hit me right in the face: "The Secret to Enjoying Your Work and Life, Now!"
Prologue
Firstly, I am writing this as a reminder to myself. “Living in the present”, these four words seem simple, yet they are the most difficult thing to apply in our daily lives. Here is a challenging question, we could ask ourselves: "Can I really make a change to our lifestyles?"
How Did I Feel?
Reading this book was truly an interesting experience. It reminded me of the lessons I had learned from «The Courage to Be Disliked». Memories of those insights flashed back, and I felt as if the questions and answers in my mind were aligning, becoming clearer with every page. Those fragmented memories, like scattered dots, were now forming a meaningful line. Later in the story, the Present, Past, and Future intertwine. The entire storyline is truly captivating.
Key Takeaways:
Build on top of what's "right" now. We can always look at the bright side and stay focused on what's [right now].
Let’s just see the picture, it is worth a thousand words!
Feel free to print it out and put it on your table as what one of the characters does inside the book). However, I do think that firsthand experience (reading the entire book) is far more valuable, and self-inquiry is a powerful tool along the journey for gaining deeper insights.
Afterword
No matter how successful or passionate we are, there will be moments when we face the same kind of despair as everyone else. Yet, we must find the courage to walk through those moments and keep moving forward.
Like the story within, we all begin as young boys, growing into young men, guided by the wisdom of older men or the support of peers around us.
One day, we’ll look back and tell the young boy within us or other young boys:
“You’ll understand the power of the present someday, and you’ll want to share it with others.”
Life is filled with challenges, each shaping us until they become untold stories, waiting to inspire others.
And when we look back, we might say:
"Once, a long time ago, there was a story... and in it, I discovered the gift of the present.
Now, I share it with you."