Stop Waiting
Among the literature I’ve read over the years, one writer I keep coming back to is Epictetus. He’s one of the few Stoic voices I return to often — second only to Marcus Aurelius.
And it’s all because of a question he asked — one I’ve sadly repeatedly failed to fulfill:
“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best of yourself?”
Because really, what are we waiting for? Why delay our own destiny?
I catch myself making excuses all the time. I know I should be working out, but I’ll say I’m too tired. I should finish my coding project, but my colony in Oxygen Not Included just needs a few more cycles to become self-sufficient.
Still, I try to take things one step at a time. One goal at a time. Right now, it’s growing my wealth. I used to save obsessively, but I learned that years of frugality mean little if inflation quietly eats away at my savings. So I started investing — and now I’m up 7%, on track to close the year with a 9% growth rate.
Another goal is writing — that’s why I restarted this blog. I may not post often, but each entry sharpens my writing a little more. I even went back to writing on paper. I keep a notebook to jot down thoughts whenever inspiration hits.
Beyond that, this year JM and I committed to doing more.
We moved to a new city, met new people, picked up new hobbies, went out more, and visited places we normally wouldn’t. I even drove across two countries! We’re ending this year with more experiences than the last few years combined.
With every new goal met, we inch closer to our best selves. It’s still a journey, but fulfillment feels closer than ever.
What I’ve learned is that doing what you should be doing doesn’t need an excuse — you just have to start.
I took a leap with investing more aggressively, and I write without waiting for a prompt. In the next few days, I plan to improve my kettlebell form and dust off my harmonica. That’s the real point — the goal isn’t to finish, it’s to begin.
So ask yourself: what have you been putting off?
What idea, habit, or dream have you let sit idle because you’re waiting for the right time?
There is no right time. There’s only now — and the person you could be if you stopped waiting.
Comments
Post a Comment