It's great to reminisce about good memories of my past. It was

The great champion George Foreman, a man who rose, fell, and rose again like a phoenix from the ashes of defeat, once said: “It's great to reminisce about good memories of my past. It was enjoyable when it was today. So learning to enjoy today has two benefits: it gives me happiness right now, and it becomes a good memory later.” In these simple yet profound words lies a wisdom born of both triumph and humility — a teaching on the sacred art of living in the present. Foreman reminds us that joy is not something to be chased in the distant future or clung to in the fading past; it is something to be cultivated here, now, in this fleeting moment that will one day become a memory.

To understand the spirit of this quote, one must know the life of George Foreman himself — a life that mirrors the cycles of struggle, renewal, and grace. Once the most feared boxer in the world, Foreman was a man of raw power and pride. But after his defeat to Muhammad Ali in the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle,” he descended into bitterness and despair. It was only years later, after leaving the ring, finding faith, and rediscovering his purpose, that he understood the true measure of happiness. It did not lie in glory or applause, but in gratitude for each day’s small blessings — a meal shared, a child’s laughter, the warmth of sunlight on the skin. Thus he learned that happiness is not a memory made later; it is a practice lived now.

The ancients, too, spoke of this truth. The philosopher Marcus Aurelius, in his meditations, taught: “Confine yourself to the present.” He warned that to live in regret for the past or anxiety for the future is to lose the only thing we truly possess — the present moment. Foreman’s words echo this Stoic wisdom, yet with the warmth of a man who has lived it. When we enjoy the present, we not only find peace now, but we also plant the seeds of joy that will blossom in our memories. Every moment savored becomes a gift to our future selves — a treasure we can revisit when the days grow long and life demands reflection.

Consider how often people live as though happiness were always somewhere else — waiting in tomorrow’s success, or hiding in yesterday’s youth. They rush through today as if it were a bridge to something better. But Foreman’s insight cuts through this illusion. He teaches that the present day, however ordinary, holds the same potential for happiness as any golden past we remember fondly. The trick is not to wait for joy to arrive, but to recognize it as it unfolds — to taste the sweetness of a simple meal, to laugh deeply with a friend, to find peace in the rhythm of one’s breath. Those who learn to live this way find that every day becomes a memory worth keeping.

In his quote, Foreman also points to the interplay between time and awareness. What we call memory is not merely the past; it is the echo of how we lived our moments. To live without joy is to fill the mind with empty echoes. But to live with presence is to weave a tapestry of light — each day shining into the next. The man who learns to enjoy today does not fear growing old, for his past becomes a garden of remembered blessings. His life is not a series of days lost to worry, but a collection of moments lived with grace.

This truth is universal, and it applies to all who struggle to balance the weight of yesterday with the uncertainty of tomorrow. To live well today is to win a quiet victory over time itself. The farmer who delights in his labor, the artist who loses herself in her craft, the parent who cherishes each fleeting laugh of their child — these are the ones who have mastered the wisdom Foreman speaks of. They understand that life’s worth is not measured in years but in the fullness of moments truly lived.

So, my child, take this lesson into your heart: do not wait for happiness to come from memory or destiny — create it now. Look upon this day as the only one that truly exists. When you laugh, laugh wholly; when you work, work with joy; when you love, love with your whole being. For each moment lived with awareness becomes a gift to your future, a bright ember that will warm you in the winters of age. As George Foreman discovered through victory and defeat alike, the secret of life is simple: enjoy today, and you will live twice — once in the moment, and again in memory.