Basically, those two sayings tell us do not waste time, and do not let laziness beat us. In this modern world, people have to overcome the fast-paced daily lifestyle. As there are so many tasks need to be completed, so that some people may take a step back – push those unfinished tasks to the future, tomorrow.
However, even though they do not have to do those things today, the unfinished tasks are still there. Today's tasks pushed onto tomorrow, means there is a shorter time to get them done tomorrow and a greater chance that there will be mistakes.
Once the tasks have been completed, there is no guarantee of the quality of the work if we rushed them in order to meet the deadline. It may have meant that the extra effort to do the task properly was not available. (This sounds like many of us young writers who write our article the night before the due date, although we've been contemplating the topic for a week or more).
Sometimes, I also put today's things onto tomorrow.
I have a little garden at home. Normally, I will do some gardening each month. However, I was supposed to do the gardening one and half months ago, due to the Chinese New Year festival, it hasn't been done until now.
One afternoon after I finished work, I started to do the gardening. The lawn (the grass) had grown across the garden's soil and had taken up most of my garden. This meant I needed to crouch on my knees and do some serious weeding.
Had I done my gardening duty on a monthly base, it would take me 20 minutes at most. But this time, it took me nearly an hour. After I finished all the gardening, I was hot and sweaty as if I just finished a marathon.
As a result, I have learnt a valuable lesson, not to leave today's gardening to tomorrow; otherwise, it will take me 3 times as long to get the task done.
In our daily life's scenarios, the corollary is that if we need to be at a new place tomorrow, prepare the map today. Tomorrow means unnecessary rushing and perhaps serious mishaps.
Again, should we be attending a conference or travelling to one, get the bag packed today. Again, if have an exam coming up, prepare well for it, for tomorrow is already too late.
As a Christian man, this philosophy is both a positive way forward and in my view, essential for my life with the Living Lord.
In my situation, managing 'whatever' today, will affect my tomorrow.
Oscar Duan is from China, he has an accountancy degree from University of Hertfordshire (UH) International campus in Malaysia, and has undertaken further accountancy studies in Australia for accreditation here. He is married to Heyley.
Oscar Duan's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/oscar-duan.html