A song about letting go of comparison, living one day at a time and finding hope in the present.
Written alone in Nashville and later inspiring an award-winning short film, original artwork and a listener’s lifelong reminder, Living For Today is more than a song — it is a message to keep going.
Out 1 July 2026
The Story
“Living For Today” was written in Nashville in 2023 during a trip that did not unfold the way I had expected.
I had travelled to the United States through an export development opportunity, attending SXSW before heading to Nashville for a fully booked week of songwriting. When several of the co-writing sessions were cancelled after I arrived, I was disappointed and felt very alone.
Instead of allowing that disappointment to end the experience, I picked up my guitar and wrote by myself.
Sitting on a bed in an Airbnb, only a short walk from Broadway and the Country Music Hall of Fame, “Living For Today” began to take shape.
At the time, I was also carrying the pain of an estranged family relationship and learning that I could not build my life around the expectations I had placed on other people. I had to accept that my dreams were my own—and that I needed to keep moving forward, even when I felt unsupported or misunderstood.
The opening of the chorus says:
“I’m living my life, stopped measuring my stride.”
Those words are at the heart of the song.
We live in a world that constantly asks us to measure ourselves: by followers, streams, achievements, productivity and how quickly we appear to be succeeding. I know how exhausting it can be to compare my path with everyone else’s and feel as though I am never doing enough.
“Living For Today” is my decision to let go of that pressure.
The title was partly inspired by the old hymn my mother sang, “One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus.” My faith reminds me that God meets us in the present. I cannot change the past, and I do not have to carry the whole future today. I can trust Him, take the next step and live this day as well as I can.
I hope “Living For Today” brings listeners a sense of peace, hope and love. I hope it reminds people that they are already enough, and encourages them to notice the ordinary moments that make them smile, take their breath away and feel truly alive.
What began as a song written alone in Nashville has since inspired an award-winning short film, an original artwork by Hope Corrigan and a tattoo worn by a listener as a permanent reminder to keep going.
For me, that is what music is meant to do: move from one life into another and meet someone exactly where they are.
The Recording
Rae Leigh first connected with Nashville producer Michael Flanders through an interview for the Songwriter Trysts podcast. After discovering a shared love of honest storytelling and acoustic country music, they went on to work together on Rae’s charting single Love Me.
Their creative partnership continued with Living For Today and a larger body of work recorded in Nashville. The stripped-back recording uses acoustic instrumentation to preserve the intimacy, vulnerability and hope at the heart of the song.
Credits
Written and performed by: Rae Leigh
Producer: Michael Flanders
Musicians: Rae Leigh, Michael Flanders, Ben Flanders and Caleb Flanders
Mixed by: Jason Millhouse, Brisbane
Mastered by: 12th and Vine Post, Gold Coast
Original artwork: Hope Corrigan, Melbourne
Label and publishing: Rae Leigh Music
Distributed by: Kycker
The Film
Living For Today began as an idea for a music video inspired by Rae Leigh’s original song, but the story grew into something much bigger.
The award-winning Australian short film follows a mother and her young daughter through one difficult day as they try to escape domestic violence, financial dependence and a system that repeatedly fails to recognise what they are going through.
She seeks help, searches for better work and tries to protect her daughter while carrying the fear, shame and exhaustion that often accompany abuse. When she is left with nowhere safe to go, music becomes a reminder of the dreams and identity she had lost along the way.
At the end of the night, one unexpected act of kindness gives her the hope and practical support she needs to take another step forward.
The film explores domestic violence, motherhood, inequality, disempowerment, resilience and the impact that compassion can have in someone’s darkest moment.
Written and produced by Rae Leigh, and directed and co-written by Ryan Littler, Living For Today was adapted from the original song written and performed by Rae Leigh.
Film Recognition
🏆 Low Budget Indie Short Film Award
New York Film & Cinematography Awards
🏆 Low Budget Short Film Award
Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards
🏆 Social Issues Award
Depth of Field International Film Festival
💛 Honourable Mention
HeARTflicks Charity Film Event
A public premiere is currently being sought through the film-festival circuit.
The artwork
The visual world of Living For Today was created by Melbourne-based artist Hope Corrigan, whom Rae met through a women’s mental-health workshop in Melbourne.
After hearing the song, Hope immediately imagined Rae’s hands reaching forward with flowers that appeared to melt with colour. That vision became an original artwork filled with expressive flowers, flowing paint and open hands—a visual reflection of vulnerability, hope and the act of offering something beautiful to another person.
The piece was created using watercolour, coffee-stained textures and touches of gold. The coffee gives the artwork an honest, imperfect warmth, while the gold represents the light and brightness that can still break through during difficult seasons.
“When I first heard Rae Leigh’s new song, I was immediately struck by the strong vision I had of her holding flowers that were melting colour. We added some coffee stains to match the authentic style, and a touch of gold for the brightness shining through in this song.”
— Hope Corrigan
Hope is a Melbourne-based artist originally from Western Australia. She works across watercolour, traditional paint and digital art, and is known for her expressive use of colour and loose watercolour style.
Jason’s Story
Music can reach people in ways we may never fully understand.
Rae first met Tasmanian listener Jason Dwyer after a festival performance she shared with Adam Brand. At the time, Jason had recently been through a serious period of poor mental health and connected deeply with Rae’s song Find a Better Day.
The message stayed with him so strongly that he later had the song title tattooed on his arm as a permanent reminder to keep moving forward.
Years later, when Jason again found himself at a difficult crossroads, Rae trusted him with an early, unreleased recording of Living For Today. The song’s message of taking life one day at a time gave him another reminder to stay present and continue.
Jason later had Living For Today tattooed as well.
““Rae Leigh’s songs ‘Find a Better Day’ and ‘Living For Today’ reached me when I was at a crossroads with my mental health. I wear both titles as tattoos because they remind me every day to keep moving forward, live for today and believe I can find a better day.”
”
The handwritten title treatment used throughout the Living For Today film, artwork and merchandise was inspired by the lettering of Jason’s tattoo.
For Rae, Jason’s story has also become a source of encouragement.
““I always said that if my music could help even one person, it would be worth dedicating my life to it. Jason became that one person for me. His story reminds me why I keep writing and sharing music, in the hope that another song may reach someone exactly when they need it.””
Jason’s tattoos represent more than song titles. They are daily reminders to keep going, remain present and believe that a better day is still possible.
If this story raises concerns for you, support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000.
Wear the Message
The limited-edition Living For Today T-shirts were created as a simple reminder to keep going, stay present and take life one day at a time.
Featuring the handwritten title treatment inspired by Jason Dwyer’s tattoo, each shirt carries the same message at the heart of the song:
Wear the message. Carry the reminder. Live for today.
Available Styles
Black T-shirt
Black shirt with white Living For Today lettering
White T-shirt
White shirt with black Living For Today lettering
100% cotton
Unisex fit
Generous sizing
Limited-edition release
$40 each
Current Stock
Black: Small, Medium and Large available
White: Small, Medium and Large available, with only a few XL remaining
Black XL and all XXL sizes are sold out.
These shirts are generously sized, so many people who usually wear a larger size may still find a smaller size comfortable.
Every purchase helps support Rae Leigh’s independent music, film and storytelling projects focused on hope, healing and meaningful social impact.
Limited edition. Once these sizes are gone, they may not be restocked.
