The Time We Spend Preparing: Lessons from George Washington on Moving Forward

Question and Thought for the Day February 19, 2025

Question of the Day: How much time do you spend getting ready in the morning?

Thought of the Day: It is in vain to ruminate upon… our present Misfortunes. George Washington

How much time do you spend getting ready in the morning?

Not just physically—though that’s a worthy reflection—but mentally. How much time do you spend preparing yourself for the day ahead? How much of that time is actually productive, and how much is wasted ruminating on things that already happened?

George Washington, the man who led a revolution and then a brand-new country, understood that dwelling on past misfortunes was pointless. He didn’t have the luxury of second-guessing every battle. If he did, the war would have been lost before it ever had a chance to be won.

But in our day-to-day lives, we often do the opposite. We linger on yesterday’s mistakes, last week’s stress, or the frustration that someone else caused us. We get ready in the morning, but our minds are still stuck in the past. We go through the motions of preparing, but we aren’t really setting ourselves up for success.

So, how much of your morning routine is actually about getting ready for today? And how much of it is spent reliving something you can’t change?

Washington’s advice is a reminder that time is better spent moving forward. Sure, acknowledge what went wrong. Learn from it. But don’t let your present—or your future—be dictated by misfortunes that are already in the rearview mirror.

Your morning is yours. Make sure you’re using it to prepare for what’s ahead, not to relive what’s behind.