Shooting the Breeze
I am sure all of us have heard this quote before. One of its meanings is that good intentions do not always result in good outcomes because of inaction due to procrastination, laziness or something else.
Yesterday, I came across this powerful quote that speaks to this issue:
“We are not faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood-it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, ‘too late.’” Martin Luther King, Jr. [HT Pete Wilson]
Often I find myself not living with a “fierce urgency of now.”
I find myself saying things like:
Tomorrow I will take my kids to the park.
Tomorrow I will call that person from church that I haven’t seen for a while.
Tomorrow I will invite my neighbour over for dinner.
Tomorrow I will begin that project that is coming up next month.
And so on and so on.
The problem is, many times, tomorrow never comes!
No matter how good my intentions are, those good intentions mean nothing unless I actually follow through with what I said I was going to do.
We need to choose to live as if “tomorrow is today”.
We need to choose to live with a “fierce urgency of now.”
We need to choose to follow through on our intentions.
We need to choose to not put off what we should be doing.
What have you been putting off to tomorrow?
***** This post is part of the blog carnival that is happening over at Peter Pollock’s blog. Go and check out the rest of the posts!
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You’re right Kevin. I know people say we shouldn’t look back with regrets, but I often wonder if it would be healthy for us to look back and wonder “what could have been” in a productive way.
Matt recently posted..“Chuck”- My Son- and a Paralyzing Disease
Hmmmm … I guess it could it be healthy if it didn’t lead us to guilt and beating ourselves up. If it led to motivation and conviction that would be a good thing.
Thanks for sharing Matt!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Those who fail deserve to be punished
Kevin,
At first, I thought your title was going to lead me down the path of the crack on civil liberties, but (even when that is important) I realized that t was a little more deep than that.
There’s this thing called a “Golden Hour” and it’s generally mentioned to be the last hour of your day. This is where you reflect on the days evens, plan for the next and (some say) expand your knowledge by reading.
I find that in order to combat the lost time, is always to plan to fill the future time (like a plan) and follow through. That way, in the days, months and years that pass by… I have a record of what I’ve done, where I’m going while completing my goals and tasks along the way.
Thanks for the posting!
-Dereck
Dereck recently posted..5 Simple Ways To Make Your First Dollar Online
Great thoughts Dereck!
I like that idea.
Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Nothing hurts quite like the message of rejection
Amen Kevin. This moment is all we have at this moment… may we learn to do as He asks with it
We need to maximize and make the most out of every opportunity.
Thanks for sharing Karin!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..There is no “easy button” to push in life
We always assume we will have tomorrow. And another tomorrow. In reallity we don’t know if we’ll be granted another minute. I feel like I’m much more aware of how quickly time passes now that my kids are pretty much grown and I’m suddenly home with an empty nest. Thanks for the reminder not to waste a single minute of the gift of time we’ve been given.
You are right, we do not have a guarantee of a future. We do need to maximize each moment and opportunity.
Thanks for sharing Joyce!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Those who fail deserve to be punished
Kevin, what I find most typical for me is that I can place tasks above relationships. You’d think I’d have learned that now that I’m in my 4th decade of life
But it takes the Urgency of Now to help me realize that. If I can place my relationships in the Urgent and Important category, I will improve in this category.
Steve-Personal Success Factors recently posted..Have You Used These Success Factors to Go From Victim to Victor
I struggle with that issue at times too. Relationships must be urgent and important.
Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Book Giveaway- I quit
I’m tempted to ask, HOW do you know when you’re simply procrastinating, and when you really do need to call it a day and leave everything else till tomorrow. But really, we know, don’t we? Especially when the same things keep coming up over and over because ignore those reminders indefinitely.
Willena Flewelling
Willena Flewelling recently posted..The Starting Point of All Achievement
You’re exactly right with the answer to your question! We definitely know when we are procrastinating and when we are justing taking a break and a rest (which are very important).
Thanks for sharing Willena!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Those who fail deserve to be punished
Thanks for the great post Kevin,
Tony Robbins calls procrastination “the silent killer”! I think that one of the reasons why people procrastinate is that they feel some relief in making the resolution and if there is enough resistance to actually taking the action, this can go on for a while.
Paul Reimers recently posted..Blog Comments and SEO – Are You Rewarding Your Commentors
Great point Paul! Something that I learned recently is we need a “so that” to our goals. We need to have the “so that” in front of us all the time so that we will continue when things get tough or boring.
Thanks for sharing Paul!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Book Giveaway- I quit
Hi Kevin, “fierce urgency of now” – I like that!
Laying out your family time, projects and work this way would help many people to accomplish much more in a shorter time. As said as well to be able to recognise an opportunity when it stands infront of you and ACTING… that is what counts and don’t leave us behind… You are so true… time is marching on… days passing, weeks passing and you don’t realize a whole year passed… and you ask what was accomplished?
Thx for passing on this message and hope you have a great blog carneval!
All the best,
Alex
Alexander Paul recently posted..Business Planning Process With A Lesson From Evan Almighty
Thanks for sharing Alexander!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Those who fail deserve to be punished
Thanks so much for this blog post, Kevin! God can’t steer a parked car, either, right? I do know the times I must get be urgent in the now, and I so appreciate the reminder to (figuratively or literally) get in the car, make sure it has gas, keep my eyes open and be willing to get out and when someone is in need, or take a detour when it’s required. That is what I am thinking of when reading this post.
Thanks and God bless!
TK
TK Goforth recently posted..“You want ME to write a SONG!!!”
Great thoughts TK!
Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Nothing hurts quite like the message of rejection
Putting things off until the last minute is one of my weaknesses. Perhaps one of these days I will learn to do it now when I am prompted to do so!! One thing I have NOT put off, and that was accepting Jesus as a young child and serving him for so far – - many years. God Bless you in your ministry – on line and in your home and your church
Hazel Moon recently posted..Hit The Road Jack
Thanks for sharing Hazel!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Book Giveaway- I quit
Procrastination does rob us of achievement, Kevin.
We need to live today fully knowing it will soon enough become tomorrow, and in that sense mirrors it.
Those of us who seek discernment in living our lives that God’s will be done, need also to be mindful that regardless of whatever we accomplish or fail to, our greatest purpose is always rooted first in love and in mercy. That is an achievement that we can undertake at this, and each subsequent moment in our lives.
David Merrill recently posted..You’re A Success… In Your Own Mind
Hi David:
For some reason I missed this comment when it was posted. Sorry about that!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Kevin
Kevin Martineau recently posted..7 benefits of confrontation
Hello Kevin,
I believe Procrastination has killed many a people’s dream. They/we keep putting it, whatever it is, off until…
Thing is, someone is libel to come along and take off with that you are holding back on, until…
Years back, the r&b rock singer Prince made a song called I’m going to party like it’s 1999. In the song he is talking, about the world ending, but as this relates to Procrastination, we need to”party” if you will, do what it is we need to do, like there is no tomorrow.
Man can you imagine having a million dollar idea and saying, I am going to sleep on it one more night, only to wake up the next day and find out someone else had that same idea, but instead of waiting another moment, the took the idea and went right to work on it, and now they are a millionaire.
What a nightmare and daymare that would be.
Talk about hell.
Cheers,
Willie
Willie Robertson recently posted..Putting the Serve Back In Customer Service
Great thoughts Willie!
Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..There is no “easy button” to push in life
Understanding is the first part of ridding yourself of the tomorrow syndrome. Now we can destroy the tomorrow’s, so they start happening today.
Great words of wisdom Andy!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..7 benefits of confrontation