I was running some errands the other day. I merged left into the middle lane of a four-lane road where the speed limit is 40 mph. The oncoming traffic was clear to my left. As I looked over my right shoulder to make certain I could merge safely, I looked back to my left only to see a young man in a Mustang attempting to pass the driver in front of him into the very same middle lane I was in, coming at me at least 55 mph. I swerved in time to avoid a head-on collision by inches. As my heart pounded and adrenaline raced in my veins, death passed me by. When I was able to compose myself, I realized what had just happened-grace. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow.

I am reading a fascinating biography of Buddy Holly. He was a pioneer and a musical genius. His music made him immortal He never should have died in a plane crash one cold winter night in Iowa. Unlike other rock and roll casualties, he didn't die of a drug overdose or from ingesting too much alcohol. He took some bad advice and didn't listen to his intuition. Unlike the portrayal of him by Gary Busey in the 1978 film, he was much more human and subject to the same temptations, shortcomings, and character flaws each of us possess. While he could be short-tempered, selfish, thoughtless, rude, and a bit of bully at times, he could also be kind. There is a little good in the worst of us and a little bad in the best of us.

Abe Lincoln ironically said, "The best thing about the future is it comes one day at a time."

"Life is like an ice-cream cone; you have to lick it one day at a time," said Charles Schultz.

Neil Young recalled, "I just wrote one song at a time, kinda' like an alcoholic, one day at a time."

"My philosophy is to take one day at a time. I don't worry about the future. Tomorrow is even out of sight for me," said Bobby Darin.

So, how do we make the most of our short time on earth? Keep a journal. Take lots of pictures. Tell great stories. Savor our time on earth. Get from the day, not just through it-and have a plan.

In 1921, Frank Crane wrote a profound set of guidelines, a simple set of marching orders, for living one day at a time. I have read it every day for many years.

1. Just for Today, I will try to live through this day only and not tackle all my life's problems at once. I can do some things for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Just for Today, I will take care of my Body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, and not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my will.
5. Just for Today, I will try to strengthen my mind: I will study, I will learn something useful, and I will not be a mental loafer all day. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.
6. Just for Today, I will exercise my Soul. In three ways, to wit:
1. I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. If anybody knows of it, it will not count.
2. I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William James suggests just for exercise.
3. I will not show any one that my feelings are hurt. They may be hurt, but Today I will not show it.
7. 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.
8. 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 Hurry and Indecision.
9. Just for Today, I will have a quiet half hour, all by myself, and relax. Sometime during this half hour, I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective to 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.

Today, I drive much more defensively. That young man in the Mustang thinks he is going to live forever as evidenced by the way he drives. He is playing Russian roulette. Live every day as if it were your last; one day, you'll be right.