In hard times, we’re tempted to focus only on survival. “Just get through today,” we tell ourselves. And tomorrow. And the next day, and the day after that.

And when we’ve gotten through all the days—what then?

It’s easy to fall into a trap of constantly looking to the future for happiness, especially when the present looks dim. But even the hardest days have some value to share—a lesson to be learned, a memory to be made, a touching moment to be appreciated. And the future comes with no guarantees.

All we have is today. No matter what kind of today you’ve been given, squeeze some good out of it.