Do The Things. Do Them Now.
One day you’ll wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Do it now. ~ Paulo Coelho
In my book, Start with the Give-Me Shots, I shared eight lessons that my late dad taught me over the years. Those lessons have essentially become my core values. While I learned additional lessons from my dad that didn’t appear in my book, some of the lessons are attributed to what my dad didn't get to fully explore or do. One of those lessons is what I refer to as “Do The Things, Now.” A valuable lesson and one that my dad did experience in other areas of his life, but when related to his dream of a “get away”, he wasn’t able to pursue it.
About a week before my dad died, I recall sitting in the hospital room with him, looking at online auto auctions, searching for an antique pick-up he had been interested in buying for a number of years. We also talked about his desire to buy a property in Phoenix, Arizona that he'd hoped my mom and he could escape to during the winter months and enjoy the warm weather, a pool, and more. A dream that would depend on his ability to create a farm/ranch operation that could run with his limited physical involvement. I’m sure these dreams were combined, as the pick-up would have been fun to drive, with his newfound snowbird life outside of Nebraska.
What he wasn't counting on was a life cut short. That he would get sick and some of the things he planned to do in the second half of his life would not be possible. While my dad and I often talked about financial decision making, being smart with money, being mindful to care for your family, and monetarily prepared for the unexpected, we also shared ideas and dreams of how we might spend our money. For years, I shared my dream, and I mean “dream” of owning a property near the ocean where I could enjoy sand, sounds, and sun. Having grown up on a farm in western Nebraska, the dream seemed unattainable, if not downright impossible.
But “Do The Things, Now” kept coming to my mind. I could hear the statement, over and over, every time I thought of my dad.
Only a few years after my dad died, I started exploring the possibility of buying a beach home. The reality of having a warm weather getaway became a consistent conversation I had with my husband, Allen.
Fast forward, through hard work, disciplined saving, and trade-offs, we’ve made the dream a reality. The reminder of my dad was woven throughout the process. I would often ask myself, “what if my life timeline is similar to my dad’s”? If that was true, I would have less than 20 years to enjoy everything that is left for me and of my life.
Do The Things, Now.
We decided this was important to us and was the thing to do, now. We could have waited, reasoned that this is an action taken in retirement or later in life. But because we made sound decisions and positioned ourselves to enjoy the dream now, we moved forward.
Don't push off or discount what could be because you believe you have time. The notion that we will always have time, that there will be enough time later is one for you to think more deeply about. It’s not true. We don’t have all the time and there isn’t always “later.” Instead of waiting, take the steps now, to do what you want.
Ask yourself these questions:
What dream do I want to pursue?
Why is it important to me?
What would it take to do it?
What am I willing to sacrifice to make it happen?
At this moment, I’m spending a few weeks here at our beach home, during my lifetime, and with so much appreciation for what my dad taught me. While he didn’t get to enjoy his dream escape, the unknowing lesson he provided inspired me to enjoy mine.
Do The Things. Do Them Now.