“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
People regularly make excuses for why they cannot and will not do something that needs to be done. Crossing items off the to-do list becomes infinitely more complicated than it actually is when one simply does not want to do something, but cannot admit that to oneself.
Particularly susceptible to the curse of excuses are long-term goals – ones that will take weeks, months, or even years of dedication and steady effort. Learning a second language, getting into shape, and mastering balance are hard to complete and even harder to begin. Such is where the quote above comes in: true, it would be wonderful to have finished something by now. But the best alternative, and what we will focus on in this article, is to take a step toward completing your goal right now.
This quote makes many uncomfortable for a simple reason: it forces you to conjure into mind images of what should already be begun and over. It brings into sight great regrets that are overwhelming. I wish I would have tried harder in high school and that I had been working on getting into shape ages ago. I want a scholarship and a body which suits my strong will and tough mind. Indeed, we all have a goal we should have began working on ages ago that has no end in sight presently.
But perhaps one day, there will be an end in sight. Perhaps we will meet that goal. Would you prefer to meet that goal in a year or a year and a day? Begin today. Go do a couple crunches. Stop eating junk food now. Say no to slacking off and do something for money so you can start saving for retirement. Do it now. You will be much better off in the long run.
