It is no good on dwelling the past. Whatexisted or happened in the past may have been beautiful or exciting and may nowbring profound and precious memories, but the past is dead, and it is nothealthy for living spirits to linger over a world inhabited by ghost. The pastmay also be a place of horror, of regret, of spilled milk, of unfortunate deedsthat cannot be undone, of sad words like "might have been." However,it is painful and pointless to fixate on a period that cannot be relieved orrepaired. It is unproductive self-punishment. The past must be kept in itsplace, outlive and outgrow.

It is also useless to worry about thefuture. Why fly to heaven before it′s time? What anxious visions haunt peoplewho think too much about the future? They may envision the horrible mushroomcloud; the earth shriveling from radiation; the over-populated, abused earthgone dead. They may imagine their own lives going awry; appointments missed;advancements given to someone else; their houses burned to the ground; theirloves lost; everything in their lives, as in a nightmare, slipping away. Thereis no end to the disasters people can worry about when focusing anxiously onthe future. There are events in the future, including their own deaths, overwhich they have little or no control, but which can ruin their lives if theyworry about them. There are some disasters they may be able to prevent, butthey must do that by living well in the present, not simply by worrying aboutthe future.

The present moment, which is even now movinginto the past, is the only reality I know, and I don′t want to miss it. Thewild cherry cough drop dissolving in my mouth is sweet and soothing. Even mysore throat and backache have meaning. The cool night air, the cracking noiseof my furnace, my cat yawning and stretching--these are the tangible realitiesI can recognize. They exist in this moment, together with my own breathing, thewarm lamp overhead, the jerking of my typewriter. Along with these are therealities of other and of all life on this earth, which matter to me now, notat some past or future time.

Everyone needs a sense of history, I think,particularly a feeling for his or her own roots, but history needs to keep itsdistance to be appreciated. It is also vital to have some sense of direction, whichmeans making plans for the future but not becoming preoccupied with them. Whatis most important, I believe, is living in the present, that is, being alivenow.

What does theauthor most probably treasure?

• A.The sore throatand backache he is having
• B.Any living thingshe gets along with everyday
• C.The healthy lifehe will enjoy after he recovers
• D.The wild-cherrycough drop he drank a moment ago