How Old Will You Be?

What is it you are wanting to do? What calling on your life are you ignoring? What excuses are you making as to why you haven’t started writing that book? Why haven’t you sent out your resume or started that business you’ve been dreaming about? Why didn’t you enroll in classes and go back to school?

I had a client, back in my hairstyling days, who would come in for his haircut appointment. Every visit, without fail, he talked about how much he loved children and how he wished he would have been a teacher instead of a salesman. He spoke of it so often that on one appointment I suggested he go back to school and get his teaching credentials since it was something he was so passionate about. He laughed and made the excuse, “I’m forty-four,” he said. “By the time I’m finished I’ll be close to fifty.” I smiled and asked him, “How old will you be in four years if you don’t go back to school?” He turned around and faced me, realization blossoming in his countenance. Four years would pass for him either way. He could be close to fifty with a teaching degree, or close to fifty without one. The choice was his. I am happy to say, he went back to school and has been teaching for many years.

Things just don’t happen, it takes effort. The biggest endeavor is just starting. Water will not flow until the faucet is turned on. We spend so much energy on excuses. The first advice you will get when discussing a big life change is to make a Pros and Cons list. I would encourage you to never do that. Pro and Con lists work like this. You list all the pros on one side of your paper and then on the other column you list the cons. I am telling you now, the con list will always outweigh the pros. Why? Because Con’s are fueled by fear. Cons will tell you everything that could go wrong. Fear sets in and soon the paper is in the trash along with your dreams and hopes for the future. Cons live up to their name. They are swindlers, robbers who come in and fast talk you out of your success. They scare you into playing it safe but playing it safe will never get you where you want to be. Cons give excuses as to why the dream is too risky or wouldn’t work in the end anyway.

I would encourage you to make a Pro list only. Tell yourself all the good that will come from following your heart’s desire. Keep a running list of all the wonderful things that could happen once you start on the path to your life’s calling. Those pros will be your daily inspiration and the motivation you need to keep going. Pros are promises that are yet to be fulfilled but will come true once you execute your plan.

Today is the day. No more excuses and no more wasting time. He who kills time dies with it. How long do you figure it will take to make this life change? How old will you be? Just remember that time will pass regardless. You will age regardless. Approach those years with a dream intact or approach those years without it. The choice is yours.

It’s time for adventure. Remember, the man on the top of the mountain didn’t fall there. He climbed, took risk, got a few scrapes and bruises. It took some time, but that time would have passed whether he was climbing or sitting in his recliner. By climbing he did summit, and he felt the exhilaration of being on top of his world!