Last Thursday, when the big boy and I were driving to work, I had an epiphany. This epiphany led to a little panic attack. All of a sudden I felt all of my 41 years. I realised that I don’t have that many years left in me. I am no longer twenty. I am in the middle of my life, that is, if I live to 80. But will I really reach 80? What if I only have 20, 25, or 30 years left.
I always say things like – “I’ll buy this book and read it when I retire”, or “I have to get this DVD. One day I’ll find the time to watch it, I’m sure.” My Billy bookcase is fast filling up with unread books and unseen DVDs.
But what if when I do retire something else will come up or occupy me such that I will never get to do things I wanted to do. Maybe I will be too sick, or my eyes will be too shot for reading, or caring for my son Miguel becomes a full time job. Let’s say I will be productive until age 65; that’s only 1,248 weekends left!
So today I am on a mission. Not in January 2012 (New Year resolutions are over rated) but today. My mission is to do things that I’ve always wanted to do but think I don’t have time to. Notice that I use the word think. I do believe that we make up excuses as to why we are not doing the things that we want to do. Children, family, work, a TV show, social network, and all sorts of distractions in life make up our excuses. If you are one of those folks who are doing what they love, then I envy you.
I resolved that my list will not include my bucket list. The contents of my bucket list are whimsical and some downright impossible.
I kept it real. Simple. Achievable. Enjoyable. Inexpensive. Here they are.
1 – Run weekly
2 – Read one book per month
3 – Watch a DVD movie fortnightly
4 – Write a blog weekly
5 – Play the guitar weekly
I will keep a diary of my wins and fails. Those books and movies that I will be reading and watching can even be my blog content. Fantastic.
So, my friends, what are your 5 Just-Do-It things?