Caution: Naughty language ahead!

 

“We rise to meet each day because there will come a time when the day will rise without us” ~ Chris Matakas

Recently I’ve been lucky enough to quit a job that sucked my soul dry and left me struggling to get out of bed in the morning.

Even luckier, I found myself without the need to immediately seek out new socially normal employment. I’ve spent several months doing whatever the fuck I wanted to; it’s been amazing and eye opening.

One thing I’ve seen over and over is almost no one does the things they want to do.

Granted, I understand and am eternally grateful that I have only myself to support and realize that not many people can just stop working their nine to five and still make ends meet but given the mental (and physical) reward of doing what we want, even just sometimes, I can’t help but plead that every one of us do it right now.

Right fucking now.

This morning.
Tonight.
On lunch.
As soon as the work calendar is open.
When the kids finally go to sleep.
Buy the tickets today.
Borrow a Time Turner from Dumbledore and do it yesterday.

Commit to the things you want to do. You’ve been meaning to do. You used to love to do.

I’m certainly not coming from a place of someone who does this flawlessly. Quite the opposite, I have all the free time in the world right now and continually find myself wasting it or letting anxieties get the better of me. This plea is to push myself as much as it is for everyone else. To remind all of us to make things happen sooner rather than never.

Impermanence is reality and the things we want will not wait for us.

Take that trip and do it the way you’ve envisioned all this time.

Go to the new restaurant you’ve wanted to try. It doesn’t matter if someone’s coming with you or not—just go.

Take that hike, there’s so many trees that need hugging. Take your dog too, there are so many smells that need smelling.

That book you’ve got on the table beside your bed, the one you have been meaning to read since your friend lent it to you seven months ago, put your phone on silent and dig in, it looks like a good one.

Thread the needle on the sewing machine in your closet you always mean to use, buy the patterns and the material and make that summer dress. Dresses.

Give yourself a break sometimes, you’re doing your best and that’s all that’s ever asked or expected.

The weekend is plenty of time for that impromptu road trip to nowhere in particular.

Get your passport so you can’t use that excuse to back out of seeing the world.

Take a couple days off work and do nothing. There’s no shame in wanting to do nothing. Your life’s hectic and you know you deserve the relaxation.

Update your resume and send it to employers you actually want to work for. Yes, you already make decent money but what if you could make decent money and be happy going to work each day?

Dust off that guitar you haven’t touched in three years and play it. Who cares if the strings are old and dirty? I know, you can’t find your tuner. It’s okay, there’s an app for that.

Call that friend you have been meaning to catch up with for so long. They miss your voice too. You can probably meet them at that new restaurant for dinner.

Write that article for your favorite independent mindful website. You’ve had so much coursing through you lately, just start typing. Yep, it’s intimidating with all the great authors on rotation but everyone loves a new voice in the crowd (I hope!).

I don’t have a clue what you want to do but you do.

Oh, you say you don’t even know what you want?
Take some time to slow down and reflect on it, you will know.
Make a list of things and do one a week every week.
Do anything in the world that works for you.

Whatever you do don’t look back next year, in five years, maybe 10 and think “If only I’d done….”

Do it now.

 

Relephant: 

7 Ways to Conquer Procrastination Once & For All.

Author: Andrew Paciocco

Volunteer Editor: Kim Haas / Editor: Catherine Monkman

Image: Ginny / Flickr