As soon as…

I have always suffered from “as-soon-as-itis”. As soon as I lose 20 pounds, I’ll get some new clothes; as soon as I switch my shift an hour earlier, I’ll have time to go to the gym every day; as soon as I buy a laptop, I’ll get going on writing my book. Uh-huh. And I’ll start to watch my cholesterol when? As soon as I have a heart attack?

So you’re alittle overweight, you’re not getting along with someone so well right now, you’re spinning your wheels at your job. Life’s gentle reminders often fall on deaf ears, and so the reminders become less gentle and more pointed, if we’re lucky. We’ve all heard of people who had no warning signs and dropped dead at an early age, but we rarely heed the message for us hidden in these tragedies. You didn’t die. You are still here, so pay attention. Don’t squander this day, or this hour or this lifetime. You might be the next one to suddenly be told “Time’s Up, let’s go” “But I’m not ready” You may well protest I can’t die, lose my job, lose a loved one, I’m just not ready! I never got to (fill in the blank)…

Here’s a word to the wise, or more likely, a word to the rest of us, because the wise don’t need to hear it. They already know. Be ready. Tell them you love them, get your blood levels checked, wear your seatbelt, start writing your book, go for a walk. Do it as soon as you can. If you don’t do it now, you may not have the chance to do it later.