Our Gemara on amud aleph explores various situations in which someone is given property or a gift, and the recipient remains silent. Does this silence imply consent, or could it simply reflect a decision to defer dealing with it? In some cases, the opinion is that silence does not necessarily mean agreement, as the individual may be thinking, “Why should I worry about this now?” As the Gemara notes, some people may choose not to raise objections until the property is actually transferred, reasoning, “To what end will I shout if it’s not even in my possession yet?”

This Gemara subtly brings up an aspect of personality: some people anticipate and prepare for potential issues far in advance, while others wait until the situation requires their immediate attention. These two personality types reflect different approaches to handling potential stress or future obligations.

This attitude of avoiding worry over an uncertain future aligns with a sentiment from Ben Sirah (28:1), also quoted in Yevamos (63b): 

“Do not suffer from tomorrow’s troubles, as you do not know what a day will bring.”

The Arvei Nachal (Bereishis 6) suggests this is also the best approach to overcoming temptation. When viewed as a lifetime challenge, resisting temptation can seem an insurmountable obstacle. But by breaking it down to a single day at a time, it becomes a more manageable task. Facing only today’s challenge and not burdening oneself with tomorrow’s, one can tackle it in smaller, digestible steps. This approach aligns with slogans familiar in recovery communities, like “Easy does it” and “One day at a time.”

The Arvei Nachal’s perspective helps us see that even enduring goals can feel attainable when framed in present, momentary terms. Each day’s success is like a link in a chain of accomplishment, built steadily over time without the need to bear the weight of the entire journey all at once. 

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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