I Was Thinking... Hurry Up

Usually, I espouse the idea of relaxing and appreciating the small things in life. I’ve talked about watching clouds, appreciating sunsets, and embracing the simple things. But there also comes a time to realize that you don’t have all the time in the world, and you had better hurry up.
With each approaching birthday, I realize the number of future birthdays are rather limited. I’m also painfully aware that some of those things I thought might happen someday, probably won’t. When we were young, it seemed all those dreams were possible in the future. But then life happens. Marriage, children, jobs, and responsibilities kept us very busy, and some dreams were put on the back burner until we had time. Well, now, may be that time.
Since I have been retired for 14 years, you would think, by now, I would have had time to complete all those things I’d put on the back burner years before. Of course, by now, I would have organized the garage, shed, and basement workroom like I’d planned. I would have cleaned up my office and organized my files. With all this time on my hands, I would have finished the landscaping around the yard as well.
But of course, to no one’s surprise, none of that has happened. Oh, I’ve worked on a lot of those projects but haven’t really completed any, and now I feel I’d better hurry.
While I have some friends that seem to have it all together and have reached their goals, many more I find are just like me. But it still isn’t too late, depending on what you want to do.
Last fall I reached my goal of visiting all 50 states when we took a trip where we visited North Carolina and South Carolina. If you ever dreamed of visiting the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Yosemite, New York City, San Francisco, or go to Europe, what’s stopping you? Did you ever want to go deep sea fishing, scuba diving, or skydiving? It may not be too late.
Did you hope to research your family’s history, write a novel, or act in a play? Why not start now. Have you thought about volunteering at the library, a nursing home, or at an animal shelter? Maybe you should.
I’ve often heard people say, “someday I’d like to...” but they never got around to it. Too often people don’t regret what they did, as much as what they did not do.
Earlier in our lives, we may have had the dreams but not the resources to do something. Now we have more time and maybe more resources but wonder if we are too old for some things. The dream of playing professional sports may no longer be possible and my wife has told me I’m too old for another motorcycle, but maybe there is still that dream car you always wanted or that cruise you wanted to take. While I don’t think I’ll canoe down the Mississippi, hike the Appalachian Trail, or drive a race car, I could still try for a hole-in-one in golf or ride a zip line.
Not everything has to involve exotic things or faraway places. It could be things you always wanted to do at home. Could you organize those boxes of pictures you’ve collected or maybe even those slides in the back closet? Is it time to organize or donate those fabric scraps you always intended to use? It isn’t too late to learn how to play the piano, guitar, or paint. And if we actually still live a long time, maybe we can even see the Vikings win a Super Bowl.
Did You Ever Wonder? — How can Charlie be short for Charles when they both have the same number of letters?