Let it be known that I am no sad little girl, but I just happened to pass by one the other day, and without knowing it, she taught me some lessons and even sparked the desire to write for the first time in 2014!
Would you ever purposefully deprive yourself of happiness? Would it ever make sense to delay your dreams for something that’s really not that important?
In regards to your own desires, if you’ve ever told yourself any of the following:
“I’ll do it later… I’ll get around to it… Someday… Not now…”, then you could benefit from reading what I learned from a little girl’s sudden sadness.
Are You Telling Yourself “Not Now”?
The other day, I arrived earlier than expected to a meeting and decided to walk the streets of downtown Mountain View to get a quick bite to eat. I casually strolled along as I searched for my dining destination. The sun was shining bright but I didn’t see any smiling faces amongst the stream of people passing by. It was as if they were all running late, in a frantic hurry to be someplace else.
Then, out of nowhere, I heard the sound of excitement from a child.
I looked forward and saw a little girl pointing at a store front, exclaiming: “Ohh!! Can we go in there Mom?! I LOVE MUSIC!”
I turned my head in the direction of her wide eyed gaze and saw a wild window display of instruments, looking like they were all dancing together for the world to see. The little girl was so genuinely happy and ready to explore with a huge smile; but unfortunately not for long… Abruptly, her mother took her by the arm, and without even making an attempt to look at the store display, she bluntly replied, “NOT NOW.”
The little girl’s raw emotions were denied and she was hurried away from her source of happiness. Her smile was nowhere to be found and her body hunched over in defeat. In a quick instant she went from the peak of happiness to a low sadness.
Although that little girl had no choice in pursuing what brought her joy, she reminded me that everyday we each have windows of opportunity to be happy. Sometimes we just pass them by, and other times we allow ourselves to explore these moments of happiness. It is possible to choose happiness right now in this very moment.
‘Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.
It’s not uncommon to see dreams pushed aside with excuses. “I’ll finally be happy when I have more money… attract a partner… graduate… find the right job… get married.. buy that new car/house… [fill in the blank].…”
In all these cases, you’re ultimately telling yourself, “Not now.”
Personally, I’m guilty of saying, “I need to write, but first I have to organize my life.” It’s just another excuse, and I find it funny that a seemingly trivial incident (i.e. sad little girl), can motivate action. I finally made time to write because I felt compelled to share an experience that others may learn from.
Tell Yourself This Instead
“Do It Now!”
Make time to pursue what makes you happy right now. Not tomorrow, not later, not in a minute, but now. Yes, right NOW. If your happiness is important to you, then Do It Now!
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