Ann Landers
Mid Mod Pam on Jul 27 2008 at 8:00 am | Filed under: Inspiration
It is really really corny to admit, but I grew up reading Ann Landers. Religiously. And there’s no question, she had a big influence on me. Remember, this was back in the day of 3 TV channels and one local newspaper. I also was an incredibly avid reader of my mom’s Ladies Home Journals, Redbooks and Family Circles. These were also decisive in my life.
So the other day, when I wrote about not using a bathroom scale, I remembered this Ann Landers column. Which I actually have pasted inside my medicine cabinet. Take care of yourselves, dear readers. Just for today, okay?
Dear Ann Landers – Our wonderful son, only 20, was buried yesterday. He died of leukemia after a valiant fight that lasted five years. In his wallet we found an Ann Landers column. It was yellow with age but the message was beautiful. Will you please run it again? – Our son would have loved that. Thanks Ann and bless you for all the strength you have given people – A Mother
Dear Mother: Here it is – along with my condolences. It’s one of my favorites, too.
JUST FOR TODAY – I will live through the next 12 hours and not try to tackle all life’s problems at once
JUST FOR TODAY – I will improve my mind. I will learn something useful. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration
JUST FOR TODAY – I will be agreeable. I will look my best, speak in a well-modulated voice, be courteous and considerate.
JUST FOR TODAY – I will not find fault with friend, relative or colleague. I will not try to change or improve anyone but myself.
JUST FOR TODAY – I will have a program. I might not follow it exactly but I will have it. I will save myself from two enemies – hurry and indecision.
JUST FOR TODAY – I will exercise my character in three ways. I will do a good turn and keep it a secret. If anyone finds out it won’t count.
JUST FOR TODAY – I will do two things I don’t want to do, just for the exercise.
JUST FOR TODAY – I will be unafraid. Especially will I be unafraid to enjoy what is beautiful and believe that as I give to the world, the world will give to me.
This post shows that retro renovation can applie to our lives as well as to our homes. We can benefit from looking to the past for wisdom as well as for decorating ideas. Unfortunately, my no-nonsense mom did not believe in subscribing to magazines (thought they were a waste of time and money), but my dad was a newspaper editor, so there were always newspapers around and I could get a dose of Ann every day!
This column could definitely be considered a way to “retro renovate” our own ways of thinking, methinks.
I love Ann Landers. Her column was always one of the first things I used to read (back when I subscribed to a paper every day).
I believe in always looking forward in life, but I think in our haste to be new and different from previous generations, instead of selectively using wisdom from the past, we dumped all of it. Then again, maybe “what goes around, comes around” has always been true, both in culture and in design. If that’s too heavy for you on a Sunday morning, Pam, may I ask what year this column is from?
Hi Maddy, I don’t know what year this column originated…I cut my bathroom copy out just a few years ago, but I know it was a reprint. It’s funny — I try and shy away from sermonizing or making this blog political…or deep. But in the end, it seems, everything is political - in the sense of how we use our resources, what we have to learn from the past, even how we live our lives. Yes, ’tis Sunday.
“Just for Today” is used by the Al-Anon Family Groups, a 12-step program for family, friends, and loved ones of alcoholics, and they print a bookmark with this list (with some slight variations). I have no idea whether Ann Landers picked this up from Al-Anon or whether Al-Anon got it from Ann Landers, but it doesn’t really matter. Folks in Al-Anon use it just like Pam does, as a daily reminder of a good way to live, especially if you live with a difficult family situation.
Here is a place where you can read the Al-Anon version:
http://www.wyomingal-anon.org/just_for_today
[...] into the retro renovation vortex - I love it! She absolutely positively gets this month’s Ann Landers award for tenacity and decisiveness! hey pam! i had to share with you pictures of my new drexel [...]
Thank you so much for I’m so glad you posted this. I also grew up reading Ann Landers and my mom’s Redbook, Family Circle and, and Parents!! I believe my 4th or 5th grade teacher read this to our class way back in 1967 or 68 and I’ve always remembered it– I plan to share it with my co-workers as the new year begins.
Have a happy new year!