June 11, 2021 – The twentieth official Friday Night BeerBlog

I may be breaking a blog/podcast unwritten rule. I’m going to write about the thing that I did a podcast about just this week on The New Old You podcast. And I’m doing that because I think it is just that important. Wednesday’s mini-episode podcast was about Seizing the Day and Living Out Loud. And the reason I was drawn to that subject this week was because of some things that happened over the last couple of weeks involving bike accidents by friends and by health issues of family members.

It’s been written that the number one regret of those who are dying is that they wish they had had the courage to live a life true to themselves and not the life others expected of them. Long time pallative caregiver, Bonnie Ware wrote about it in her 2012 book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.

She said “This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

I’ve been there. Been so tired of doing something UNTIL I can’t do it anymore and THEN want nothing more than to do that thing, but can’t.

But what I mean when I say “Put Down Your Crystal Ball” is that so many times we are afraid to even TRY to do things that we want to do. Fear grips us to stay in our rut. Comfortable means easy. We can’t do something new or different or attempt something outside the box because it will be too hard; we’ll get hurt; we’ll most definitely fail. We see in our heads failure and know that is would be the only path if we tried. You’re attempting to predict your future. You can’t do that.

What I tell Cate all the time is that if you think you are going to fail and that keeps you from even trying, absolutely you are going to fail. But life isn’t really like that. If you give into that negativity then fear is definitely going to win. It’s all about your mindset. And it could go either way. If you at least give yourself a chance to succeed, then you may surprise yourself.

A lot of times people like to hang out in the safe and familiar…

UNTIL my kids are in school, or out, or gone. UNTIL I have enough money or more money. UNTIL I lose weight or am in shape. All that these untils are going to do is to push off and make you procrastinate to the day that you REALLY are unable to try, when injury or illness prevents you. Waiting until it’s too late is full of so much regret.

I don’t care who says what, but nobody can predict the future. Nobody can tell you you won’t be successful in a new career path. Nobody can tell you you’ll fail if you attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail. And that includes your own subconscious mind. One day you are going to wake up before your subconscious and be upset that you let it rule you, made you live in so much fear.

Don’t let that happen. Be aware of it now. It’s time to give those dreams and desires a spin. Who cares if you fail, as long as you try. Even the memory of a failure is often epic.

Do you remember the old 1970s Schlitz commercials about Grabbing the Gusto? I’m adding a link below just in case you don’t. Their ad message was this, “You only go around once. You gotta grab for all the gusto you can.” I’m all about grabbing that gusto message – not so much about grabbing a Schlitz. But point made.

Life is freaking short. You cannot predict life. I have had too many friend’s days and lives cut short by injury, fatal accident, illness, or death. I know many that have come to a point when they WISH that they had done X, Y, Z when they had the opportunity. Well, this is your wake up call to answer the call when it comes. Tell fear to shut the hell up and get out of your way.

I am most definitely wishing you continued health and courage to go after the things you want.

LLM

Podcast version of the podcast here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1594894/8688498