Do It Now. Not Later.

# Do It Now, Not Later

I say a lot of things all the time.

Wants vs. Needs

Don’t be wasteful.

It will be there tomorrow.

No one and nothing is perfect.

The only person you have to live with for the rest of your life is yourself.

AND

Do it now, not later.

Just a small by-the-way, these aren’t all the things I say all the time. Just a small sample.

I mentioned in my last post how music plays a large role in the way my story plays out in my head. I mentioned the Foo because they are heavy hitters on the soundtrack.

Last weekend, while I was writing the last blog post and newsletter, I learned of Taylor Hawkins’ death and was hit with the twinge of regret for never having seen him play. Then I reminded myself of one of my most favorite things to say. Do It Now, Not Later.

I have never had the opportunity to see the Foo Fighters in concert and learning of Taylor’s death made me feel a moment of regret. I never did it (go to a concert) because I always told myself there would be a later.

I try my darnedest not to feel that. Regret. I think regret means that I wish that somehow I did things different and when I am firm in my belief that everything happens for a reason, as it should and that I wouldn’t be who I am without life happening just as it has, I can’t let myself live with regret because then I am rejecting a little piece of what makes me me.

I aim at loving myself, accepting myself for who I am, for encouraging myself in much the same way that I encourage others to embrace their whole glorious selves. Regret feels like it denies the self of such acceptance and encouragement. When I feel that twinge, what I try to do instead is take a moment, breath deep, shift my perspective away from the first person, see the situation for what it is and learn a lesson.

Learning Taylor’s light only lives on in what his relatively short life created in memory, music, film and other creative projects made me think about how grateful I am for creativity and art because even when the light goes out the art can live on for a long time to come. I thought about his wife, kids, family, the Foo and Dave. His wife lost her partner, his kids lost their dad, he meant the world to the people that loved him as we all do to our loved ones. Where my heart keeps landing is with Dave, though.

I was a widow at 21 due to suicide. I was a new mom with a nine month old son and I know the havoc that experience wreaked on my mind, body, life and soul. I know how hard it was for me… who am I kidding? It is still fucking hard for me. Hard for me to open up, let people in, trust anyone with knowing me for who I really am through and through and I just keep thinking about that bond Taylor shared with Dave and that now it will only live in memory for Dave. They both talked about it a ton. About how they are brothers from different mothers, how they had this loving bromance. I admire Dave for allowing himself the vulnerability to connect with someone after being so closely effected by suicide with the death of Kurt back in 1994.

I have been reading Dave’s book, The Storyteller, because I wanted to hear him read it to me. To hear his voice explain how his life contributes to his creativity and how he makes sense of what life has taught him. Also, it is really hard to read through tears because I am a sob baby when I am hit in the feels the way I knew I would be reading (listening to) his insight. I highly recommend it, by the way.

excerpt from The Storyteller

He goes on saying, “prefabricated perfection, but the road-worn beauty of individuality, time and wisdom.” He was comparing a guitar to life here in a way that I could really feel what he was saying. We only get this one life. Do it now. Not later.

I have had the thought while listening to him read his book to me that I hope, after he has had the opportunity to appropriately grieve his good buddy, that he goes back and reads his own advice.

I, along with so many others, will grieve for Taylor but no one more than those that got to be a part of his daily life. Rest In Beats, dude. If there is life after death, I know that you will being there continuing to add to the soundtrack of my story.

I came across this on Twitter. It hit me right in the feels.

To bring this all back around, do it now, not later means

* Tell the people you love that you love them.

* Stop putting off things that will help you reach the next level of your potential.

* Stop holding back due to fear. Fear of judgement, rejection, failure, whatever.

Taylor’s passion for his art was evident in the way he played. That kind of passion is hugely inspirational to me and I wish I had not put off allowing myself to experience that in-person opportunity for inspiration. I won’t allow myself to regret but I will take this opportunity to remind you to seize the day. You never know if there will be a tomorrow so make the most of today.

Do it now. Not later.