Just For Today

Short poems that focus on just for today to encourage and inspire you. The poems offer wisdom on things to keep in mind today.

So often we focus on tomorrow and forget that today is the only day we are guaranteed of having. Find verses that are inspirational and motivational to remind you to live today! We hope these poems are ones that you will share with others to remind them that they have today!

Short Poems   /   Inspirational Poems    /   Just For Today - Just For Today Quotes


  1. Today
    Poet: Unknown

    TODAY —
    Mend a quarrel.
    Search out a forgotten friend.
    Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.
    Write a love letter.
    Share some treasure.
    Give a soft answer.
    Encourage youth.
    Manifest your loyalty in a word or a deed.

    TODAY—
    Keep a promise.
    Find the time.
    Forego a grudge.
    Forgive an enemy.
    Listen.
    Apologize if you were wrong.
    Try to understand.
    Flout envy.
    Examine your demands on others.
    Think first of someone else.
    Appreciate, be kind, be gentle.
    Laugh a little more.

    TODAY—
    Deserve confidence.
    Take up arms against malice.
    Decry complacency.
    Express your gratitude.
    Worship your God.
    Gladden the heart of a child.
    Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
    Speak it again.
    Speak it still again.
    Speak it still once again.


    2. today - mend a quarrel. search out a forgotten friend


  2. Just For Today I Will
    by Sybil F. Patridge

    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.

    Just for Today I will 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.

    Just for Today I will take care of my body.
    I will exercise it, care for it, and nourish it, and not abuse it nor neglect it; so that it will be a perfect machine for my will.

    Just for Today I will try to strengthen my mind, I will study.
    I will learn something useful, I will not be a mental loafer all day. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

    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.

    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 flattery, criticize not one bit nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate nor improve anybody.

    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.

    Just for Today I will have a program.
    I will write down just what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I’ll have it. It will save me from the two pests of hurry and indecision.

    Just for Today I will have a quiet half hour, all by myself, and relax.
    During this half hour, some time, I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective of my life.

    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.



  3. Focus On The Day
    Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, © 2020

    When life seems overwhelming
    Move beyond that feeling
    Don't let your thoughts go array
    Just focus on the day.

    When tomorrow seems unsure
    Don't worry, but be reassured
    Today you are okay
    Just focus on the day.

    When your goals seem too high to climb
    Remember to take one step at a time
    That will move you in the right way
    Just focus on today.

    Remember no matter the challenges you face
    You have a purpose, you have a place
    Start your day, take time to pray
    Remember,  just focus on today.



    4. starting today ...


  4. Starting Today
    Poet: Julie Hebert, © 2015

    Starting today,
    I've made up my mind.
    Not changing it now,
    You'll soon come to find.

    Starting today,
    I will do what I must.
    To get what I want,
    Myself, I must trust.

    Starting today,
    I'll see myself change.
    At first, it may seem,
    A little bit strange.

    But starting today,
    I will feel really good.
    I will hold my head high,
    No longer misunderstood.



  5. Now
    Poet: Ella Wheeler Wilcox

    One looks behind him to some vanished time
    And says, "Ah, I was happy then, alack!
    I did not know it was my life's best prime -
    Oh, if I could go back !"

    Another looks, with eager eyes aglow,
    To some glad day of joy that yet will dawn,
    And sighs, "I shall be happy then, I know.
    Oh, let me hurry on."

    But I - I look out on my fair To-day;
    I clasp it close and kiss its radiant brow,
    Here with the perfect present let me stay,
    For I am happy now!



  6. Redeeming The Time
    Poet: Mary Lowe Dickinson

    We would fill the hours with the sweetest things
    If we had but a day;
    We should drink alone at the purest springs
    In our upward way;
    We should love with a lifetime's love in an hour
    If the hours were few;
    We should rest not for dreams, but for fresher power
    To be and to do.

    We should guide our wayward or wearied wills
    By the clearest light;
    We should keep our eyes on the heavenly hills
    If they lay in sight;
    We should trample the pride and the discontent
    Beneath our feet;
    We should take whatever a good God sent,
    With a trust complete.

    We should waste no moments in weak regret
    If the day were but one;
    If what we remember and what we forget
    Went out with the sun;
    We should be from our clamorous selves set free
    To work and to pray,
    And to be what the Father would have us to be,
    If we had but a day.



  7. Today
    Poet: Mary Frances Butts

    I will not look along the years
    And try to trace my future way,
    I only need to see my path
    For this one day.

    O Thou who art my life, my hope.
    Who art each weak heart's strength and stay.
    Help me to live within the line
    That bounds today.

    Then loving with Thy patient love
    That waits to lift and heal away.
    My heart can hold no thought, no wish.
    Beyond to-day.



  8. Just for To-Day
    Poet: Samuel Wilberforce

    Lord, for to-morrow and its needs
    I do not pray;
    Keep me, my God, from stain of sin
    Just for to-day.

    Let me both diligently work
    And duly pray;
    Let me be kind in word and deed
    Just for to-day.

    Let me be slow to do my will,
    Prompt to obey;
    Help me to sacrifice myself
    Just for to-day.

    Let me no wrong or idle word
    Unthinkingly say;
    Set Thou a seal upon my lips
    Just for to-day.

    Let me in season, Lord, be grave,
    In season gay;
    Let me be faithful to Thy grace
    Just for to-day.

    Lord, for to-morrow and its needs
    I do not pray;
    But keep me, guide me, love me. Lord,
    Just for to-day.



  9. What Of Today?
    Poet: Unknown

    We shall do so much in the year to come,
    But what have we done today?
    We shall give our gold in a princely sum,
    But what did we give today?
    We shall lift the heart and dry the tear,
    We shall plant a hope in the place of fear;
    We shall speak the words of love and cheer,
    But what did we speak today?

    We shall be so kind in the afterwhile,
    But what have we been today?
    We shall bring to each lonely life a smile,
    But what have we brought today?
    We shall give to truth a grander birth
    And to steadfast faith a deeper worth;
    We shall feed the hungering souls of earth,
    But whom have we fed today?

    We shall reap such joys in the by and by,
    But what have we sown today?
    We shall build up mansions in the sky,
    But what have we built today?
    'Tis sweet in the idle dreams to bask,
    But here and now do we do our task?
    Yes; this is the thing our souls must ask -
    "What have we done today?"



  10. Just For Today
    Poet: Myra Goodwin Planz

    Just for today; tomorrow is not mine
    And may be spent where days unclouded shine.
    This cross is heavy for an upward way,
    My weak hands tremble give me strength today.

    Just for today; the poorest child am I
    That heaven-ward looks, yet ravens when they cry
    Receive Thy bounty, though despised are they;
    Remember, then, this lowly heart today.

    Just for today; Thy manna food I ask
    That I may go rejoicing to my task,
    And if from cooling streams my feet should stray,
    Let some rock prove a fountain for today.

    Just for today; it is much better so;
    I might grow arrogant did I not know
    My poverty, yet find it sweet to say:
    "It is Thy gift, the blessings of today."

    Just for today; what more can heart demand
    From one who will each longing understand?
    Thy love withholds no treasure, so I pray:
    "Choose what may come, but give me strength today."


More Inspirational Poems  to Encourage & Motivate




Related Short Poems & Quotes You May Like:
a life well lived   A Life Well Lived

prayer for today   Prayer For Today

poems about the future   Poems About The Future

poems about hope   Poems About Hope

 poems about happiness   Poems About Happiness

poems of encouragement    Poems of Encouragement

 life is too short   Life Is Too Short


We hope these poems remind you that today is the day you have been given - it is up to you to make the most of it. No sense worrying about what tomorrow will bring as none of  us knows for sure that tomorrow will even come. Each one of us has the present moment, the present day, and at the end of the day will you be able to look back and say, it was a good day!

Don't be the person who sits around and wishes for things to happen or the person who says tomorrow I'll do it. Live the day, just for today is all you have to worry about.

Remember that what you do today affects what happens tomorrow, so just for today do your best!! And if tomorrow comes then do your best.

"If you live each day and do your best
then life will take care of the rest."



Famous Poets Featured in These Just For Today Poems:

Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems   Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems



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