As an "unemployed" (I love this term!) recent graduate, I’ve been talking to a lot of people about my “plans” lately. Actually, it's more like the impatient search for what my plans should be.
“Don’t worry. You’re still young. You have lots of time!”
Yes, it is true that I am still young. The ripe old age of 22 to be exact. And if my family genes remain strong, I’ll probably live until I’m 94, giving me 72 more years barring any major accident or illness. 72 years to get "there", but I’m still in a rush to figure it all out.
It’s a common theme with my fellow Gen Y friends too. We have high expectations for ourselves and we want to make an impact. We can Google the answer for almost anything, so when it comes to our life plans, we want to know what’s in store and how we can get there the fastest. We want to know the answers and we want to know them now.
Now, I am definitely one to take my day off to go to the beach if the sun is shining, or to drag on coffee chats with friends for hours and hours. I take the time to smell the flowers as much as I can because I believe that it is important to take every day as if it were my last – the exact same reason why I’m in such a rush.
I was reading the 37 Signals blog the other week and came across a very intriguing thought. David said, “I remember waking up [one] day long ago and thinking ‘the world would have been no different if I had not been here the past six months’. That’s a terrible feeling of regret.”
My belief is that while we’re here, we absolutely must make the most of it. Our last day could be today, tomorrow or 72 years from now. Who knows what happens after we pass or if anything happens at all. What I do know is that if today were my last day, I would be in a rush, so why wouldn't I live it up today? If there is something that I want to do in my life, why not do it today? Why would I live with that dreaded regret?
What do I want to do in my life? What's my rush? I want to be a great daughter, sister and friend. I want to soak up the sun, feel great and be thankful for every day. I want to have fun, eat delicious food and drink fantastic wine. I want to know that the world will be a little better by the time I leave and I'm in a rush to figure out how I can make the greatest impact possible while I'm here.
What you do today matters far more than what you plan to do tomorrow. What’s your rush?
Another wonderful post. Speaking of delicious food, new discovery! - MARKET by Jean-George. Soo good and a beautiful balcony if you get the chance!
Posted by: Dionne | April 14, 2009 at 06:33 PM
THANK YOU DIONNE! And I'm absolutely dying to go to MARKET. Can you say martinis in the summer sun?!
And another great semi-related post from Robin Sharma: http://www.robinsharma.com/scripts/ic_blog.php?id=537
"Fight the distractions that challenge your waking hours. Have a Ferocious Focus on The Vital Few. Spend your days only on important things. Leadership is about being focused on doing great things. Everything else is a waste of time. Yes, wasting time can feel fun. But in the end, nothing's less fun than feeling the regret of a career or a life poorly lived."
Posted by: NJ | April 14, 2009 at 08:41 PM
On finding your amazing work (aka your rush!): http://zenhabits.net/2009/04/how-to-find-your-amazing-work/
"Amazing work can be any kind of work, if it’s fulfilling your potential, if it fulfills you. Just a few examples of Amazing work: creating something new, building something awesome, helping others, inspiring others, teaching others, healing others, setting in motion something that will make the world a better place, making something beautiful, creating something useful, moving the hearts of others."
Posted by: NJ | April 14, 2009 at 08:45 PM