Yesterday is a cancelled check. Today is cash on the line.

"Yesterday is a cancelled check. Today is cash on the line. Tomorrow is a promissory note." These profound words by Hank Stram speak directly to the heart of time, responsibility, and the importance of the present moment. Stram's metaphor compares the three segments of time to financial instruments—each with a different level of relevance and power. Yesterday, like a cancelled check, is already spent, and its value has passed beyond our reach. Today, with its cash on the line, is the only time we truly have, the only moment where action and decisions hold true power. Tomorrow, like a promissory note, represents something uncertain, a future based on promises yet to be fulfilled, which can easily be left unfulfilled or broken. This metaphor carries the weight of truth, urging us to place our focus on the present, where our choices have the greatest impact.

In the ancient world, the concept of time was seen as both a gift and a curse—a force that was inevitable and uncontrollable. The Greeks divided time into two concepts: chronos (measured, sequential time) and kairos (the opportune moment). To live in the world of chronos was to let time pass by, each moment slipping into the past, as irrelevant as a cancelled check. Yet, the wise understood that kairos—the present moment, rich with possibility—was where one could make the most significant impact. As Socrates taught, the key to wisdom was the ability to live in the present, to focus on what can be done today rather than lamenting the past or dreaming of an uncertain future.

Consider the life of Alexander the Great, whose actions shaped history in ways that echo through the ages. He understood, perhaps intuitively, the power of today—of seizing the present moment. Alexander's vision was not limited by the mistakes of the past, nor by the promises of the future. He focused on the campaign at hand, the battle of today, and through this relentless commitment, he carved an empire that spanned much of the known world. Had he been consumed by the mistakes of his earlier campaigns, or fixated on the distant dreams of conquering the world, he would have failed. Instead, he operated with an awareness that today, the moment in front of him, was where his decisions mattered most.

Similarly, the story of Abraham Lincoln offers a powerful example of focusing on the present. Lincoln faced the enormous challenges of leading a nation through the Civil War, a task that seemed insurmountable at times. His decisions, often made under tremendous pressure, shaped the future of the United States. Yet, Lincoln did not obsess over the past mistakes or worry about the uncertain future of the nation. Instead, he placed his focus on what was needed now—making decisions in the present to ensure that the future would take care of itself. His actions were the cash on the line, and in each choice he made, he shaped a future that was far beyond his own life.

Hank Stram’s quote also brings to light the importance of living with purpose in the present. Yesterday is gone—it cannot be changed or undone. No matter how many mistakes we made, how many opportunities we missed, it is a cancelled check, void of relevance. Similarly, tomorrow is not something we can grasp; it is a promissory note, an uncertain promise of what might come. The only true moment we have is today, and it is in the present that we find the power to act, to shape our own future, and to make our mark on the world. The lesson is not to ignore the past or the future, but to focus on the present, knowing that it is in this moment that we hold the key to change.

In your own life, take this wisdom to heart: do not be consumed by regrets over the past or anxieties about the future. Yesterday's mistakes cannot be undone, and tomorrow’s promises are not guaranteed. The only moment you truly have is now, and how you choose to act today will define the trajectory of your life. If you press forward with intention and purpose, using today to the fullest, then the future you desire will take shape from the seeds you plant in the present. The cash on the line is yours to spend—use it wisely.

So, dear listener, I urge you to embrace the power of today. Let go of what cannot be changed and focus on what is before you now. The future rewards those who press on—but to press on, you must first take action in the present. Whether you are shaping your career, your relationships, or your personal growth, know that each moment counts. It is today that defines who you will become tomorrow. Let your actions in the present be a testament to the greatness you wish to achieve, for the future is born from the choices you make today.