Over the weekend my wife and I took the kids camping to Anza Borrego State Park, about an hour and a half outside San Diego. We got there late afternoon just as the sun had lowered beneath the mountains, providing a perfect temperature in full shade.
We had a few drinks as the kids played, ate dinner toasted marshmallows, hung around the campfire before heading to bed. The next morning we packed up and stopped in Julian for breakfast, a mountain town on the way home.
It was a simple trip, but one we easily could have skipped. The girls had softball in the morning and early afternoon so we weren’t able to leave until later in the day. It would have been really easy to blow off the camping reservation and just stay home for the weekend.
But we went and I’m glad we did.
Paulo Coehlo and Do It Now
When we got home from the trip, my wife and I were talking about the short, but really good trip. We both realize that you can’t capture lightning in a bottle. The kids get older, things change, and you won’t always be able to do trips like these. The conversation reminded me of a quote from the author Paulo Coehlo.
He said: “One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted. Do it now.”
The Many Applications of Do It Now
Do it now doesn’t just relate to spending time with your kids. There are so many applications in life that this is relevant to. It’s travel, experiencing new things, trying something new like starting a business, or even just starting a new hobby. The concept of do it now spreads to all areas of life and is applicable to everyone.
Why You Have to Do It Now
The rest of this post is about why you have to do it now. There are millions of reasons and excuses not to get started, but this is why you need to do it now.
Number 1: The Future is Unpredictable
I have faith that the future will be good, but I know there is no way of telling. Even though I have faith that things will be good, I understand that the future is unpredictable.
My health might deteriorate sooner than expected, there could be a major global event that changes everything, or there might be something that nobody ever had on their radar.
So my plan is that the future will be good–I’m saving, investing, and working daily on my health in anticipation of a bright future. But there’s also the element of do it now because the future is so unpredictable.
Number 2: Health
Right now my health is in a good spot. I can’t run or jump like I used to but I’m in good enough health to do most things. I can go for a long hike, bike, workout, and myriad other things.
There’s no guarantee how long my health will last though. My hope is that it lasts well into my 90’s, but again, no guarantees. There are certain things I have to do now while I know my health is good.
For example, I’m going to Yellowstone this summer. My family and I are easily in good enough health to make the drive out there, hike, go for walks, and do many other things. I think I’ll be able to make a similar trip for many years to come but that’s not a guarantee, so I am going to do it now.
Number 3: Interests and Life Circumstances
When I was a little kid I was interested in GI Joe’s and playing outside with my friends. Those things were cool at the time but I’m not interested in them anymore. We all have life stages and points in life where we are interested in certain things.
As time goes on, we lose some of those interests and gain new ones. It’s really important to participate in the life we are currently interested in. Even though I’m not interested in GI Joe’s anymore, I’m still glad I got to experience playing with them back in the day.
Life is lived in the present, and there’s no time like the present. So do the things you’re interested in now because you probably won’t be as interested in the months and years to come.
Number 4: There Will Never Be Another Day Like Today
A mentor of mine says there will never be another day like today. That sounds simple, but it’s a great piece of wisdom. There will never again in the history of your life be another day like today with the same people, same circumstances, current way that you view the world, etc.
There will be changes in health, life circumstances, your way of thinking and much more. So take advantage of today, be present, and know there will never be a day like this again. Take the attitude of do it now.
Number 5: The People Around You
There’s no guarantee that the people around you today will be the same in the coming years. In fact, I’d almost say it’s a guarantee that they won’t all be the same people. People move, get sick, get busy with work, and a variety of other factors.
Take advantage of those around you and enjoy the time you have together now.
Number 6: Global Events
It’s a big and ever-changing world. Agree with the COVID lockdowns or not, there’s no denying that it was a life-changing event. People weren’t able to do the same things in the year or two after March 2020 as they were before that time. Things are starting to feel normal again but the fact is that life changed.
Those changes were due to global events and there’s no way of predicting when, or what, the next big global event will be. That’s why you want to do it now, because the same opportunities presenting themselves today may not be the same ones of tomorrow.
Number 7: Cognitive Abilities
I’m going to use international travel to illustrate my point here. Using a wide age range, most 50 to 60 year olds can travel internationally and figure out a way to get around. Despite language barriers, transportation issues, and all the other things that come up with international travel.
Fast forward the years and the same can’t be said for most people in their 90’s. Sure, there are some who can still navigate an international trip, but it’s far from a guarantee. The cognitive abilities aren’t the same as people age. I hope my cognitive abilities stay strong but I can’t take that as a given.
Related: Why Our Family Increased Our Vacation Fund
Number 8: Energy Levels
It’s a fact of life that energy levels decline with age. They may decline slower for some than others, but they do decline. Do the things you want to do now because you don’t know what your energy levels will be in the future.
For example, if you want to hike the Appalachian Trail, do it now because you might not feel the same way in a few years. Or if you’ve been really wanting to try a new line of work and have the financial ability to do so, do it now or that opportunity might not be available to you five years from now.
Conclusion
Life is unpredictable so do it now. It’s cliché, but tomorrow is not guaranteed. Do it now.
That’s not to say YOLO and blow all your money. Save, invest, and do the other smart things you should do financially. Use the leftover money to do it now and live your life the way you want to live it.
What do you need to do now?
