Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) was an English writer and best known as a novelist, but he also worked in other fields such as journalism, propaganda and film. He was a thoughtful and sensitive observer of what is often referred to as “the human condition.”

In How to Live On Twenty-Four Hours a Day (1910), Bennett observes:

“The chief beauty about the constant supply off time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misspent a single moment in all your career. Which fact is very gratifying and reassuring. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.” That said, however, “There is no object that is served in waiting till next week, or even till tomorrow. You may fancy that the water will be warmer next week. It won’t. It will be colder.”

I do quite a bit of mulling reach day and those words are frequently among my companions. I really should “seize the day” more often. Perhaps after I give some further thought to that option….