When was the last time you . . .

When was the last time you . . .

Tim Connor

When was the last time you (I could ask hundreds of questions here but I’ll stick to a few);

-Thanked God for all of your many blessings?

-Told someone special how special they were?

-Read a good book to improve your life?

-Re-connected with someone in your past?

-Did an act of kindness for a stranger?

-Forgave someone for some behavior or action?

-Laughed, had fun and just enjoyed another day?

-Let go of something in your life that needed an ending?

-Set a goal and worked toward it till you succeeded?

There are so many more questions like this but my point is to ask you to focus on or consider any area of your life that may need some upgrade, changes, surrender, gratitude, energy or resources.

I know this topic could be a book but for now let’s consider why people wait, don’t act, procrastinate or are in denial regarding some of life’s important decisions and actions.

Why do we wait?

Hope is a wonderful mindset but hope without some kind of positive action can be a useless exercise. I believe in hope but the Quakers have a great saying, “Pray, but move your feet.” Waiting is sometimes a useful activity when you can’t control outcomes but waiting when you have some control again, can be a waste of valuable time.

We sometimes wait because we feel we have no control or because we fear what our proactive attempts might produce.  We are living in the future when this is our strategy and you can’t do anything tomorrow.

I believe in the power of patience however patience is not an excuse not to act even in small ways to gradually move forward, get results, overcome obstacles or learn in the process.

We are in denial?

No one likes negative circumstances, well, let me rephrase this, people who lack confidence, courage, self-esteem or self-belief don’t like negative circumstances.  Over the years I have studied many great examples of people who exhibited courage whether political, social, sports, scientific or any life area.  I could give you hundreds of examples where obstacles motivated these people to greatness that they might never have achieved if their journey had been easier.

Nothing of significance is created without effort, sacrifice, time and courage – I don’t care if it’s raising good kids or inventing technology that changes the world, in the end success comes from the courage and willingness to face obstacles and find creative solutions regardless of their discomfort or difficulty.

When we are in denial about reality – what is – we set ourselves up for disappointment, discouragement and just more obstacles in the future.

Denial – why don’t you define it. For me it is simply the inability to face circumstances that we didn’t want, don’t like or don’t feel we can handle or overcome.

Back to the title – when was the last time you . . . Are you avoiding some action or decision - from a simple thank you to a heartfelt admission that might improve someone else’s life or your own?  Why?  Fear? Ego? Regret? Anger? Resentment or some other emotion that is preventing you from finally taking action.

I’ll close with a simple example.

Recently I was on a plane and was sitting next to a woman in her 70’s who admitted that they hadn’t talked to their daughter in over 20 years.  They had had a disagreement years ago and they all decided that they would just no longer keep in touch.  What a shame.  Imagine the pain during all these years simply because no one could forgive?

Does this happen?  Yes, unfortunately thousands if not millions of times every day.  Are you guilty?  Do you need to do something you have been putting off maybe even for years?

“You will never ‘find’ time for anything.

If you want time - you must make it.”

Charles Buxton