"And if not now, when?" -- Hillel
There's a lovely stretch of "country road" that winds through our town (actually, there are many lovely stretches in this part of New Jersey, but for the sake of this story, I'll concentrate on one). Every time I've driven along this particular road, on my way from one errand to another, I've made a mental note to stop there "someday" and take pictures of the horses.
Someday...
The problem with "someday" is that it often boils down to "never."
Yesterday, I realized that I had to actually schedule the photography session into my morning list of things to do, or it was never going to happen.
So, after dropping off my daughter at camp this morning, with my camera already waiting in the car seat next to me, I pulled into the farm driveway. It took only a minute or two before the horses noticed they had a new visitor. They regarded me from afar, holding still and staring, but then they gamely trotted over.
The first horse that reached me was looking at me kindly and curiously, as if to say, "What took you so long?" (Indeed! What took me so long?) And maybe, "Got any carrots?"
There are only so many hours in our days, and only so many days in our lives. If there is something you've been wanting to do, something you keep telling yourself that you really ought to treat yourself to, something that's been whispering in your ear whenever you pass it by, then here's the simple fact: You're going to have to prioritize it.
Treat it like it really matters--like it's an appointment that you can't break without paying a hefty fine. Because fun things should matter, too, shouldn't they?
Schedule it in. Squeeze it in if you have to, right between the boring-but-necessary chores on your to-do list. Because there will always be more chores on your to-do list. (I don't think that'll be a news flash to anybody!)
Stephen R. Covey, in his best-selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has a whole chapter about the importance of "sharpening the saw." In a nutshell, it means that if we never find the time to recharge ourselves (on the physical, spiritual, social/emotional, and mental levels), we'll grind ourselves down and we won't be effective at anything. (That includes our work and our chores.)
I've said it before--coincidentally, in a post about another country road--Stop your car. Go down that path you've been longing to explore. The chores will wait for you, I promise.
But you'll return to them, refreshed.
Your turn: What have you been meaning to do for ages, but never seem to get around to doing? Let's hear it in the comment section--I'm all ears!
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