What Are You Waiting For?

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”  –Chinese Proverb  

How often do you say to yourself, "I wish I had…..?"

• "I wish I had gone to college or finished college."
• "I wish I had learned to ski (or to dance or paint or fly or ride a horse or ride a bike or swim or ______________________."
• "I wish I had learned yoga or karate or _________________.
• "I wish I had climbed that mountain."
• "I wish I had started running when I was younger."
• "I wish I'd had a child."
• "I wish I had written that book."
• "I wish I had pursued ________________for my work."
• "I wish I had___________________."

What are you waiting for?

If you want to live a long life, then it is vital that you do some form of exercise every day, eat well, and have purposeful, meaningful work or activities daily.

What do you tell yourself that may be stopping you from doing something you've always wanted to do?

• "It's too late for me to learn something new. 'An old dog can't learn new tricks.'” (Hogwash!)
• "I don't have the time." (Then stop watching TV!)
• "I don't have the money." (Then stop spending on things you don't really need.)
• "My partner would get upset." (Then learn how to take loving care of yourself in the face of your partner's upsets.)
• "I don't have the energy." (Doing something you've always wanted to do GIVES you energy!)
• "I might fail. Maybe I can't do it." (So what? It's the effort that brings the joy, not the outcome.)
• “I’m too old to have a baby.” (There are plenty of older children who need a home.)
• Other _____________________________.

We've all heard of people going back to college or learning to paint or becoming a marathon runner in their later years. If they can do it, so can you.

Our society has been focused on retirement, but as it turns out, retirement is not such a good idea. Our bodies and minds need to stay active our whole lives with activities that are meaningful to us. If you have retired from your previous job, why not learn something new that you've always wanted to do? If you don't need to earn money at it, then you have even more flexibility on what you want to learn.

When you let go of worrying about whether or not you can do it, then you are free to just enjoy the process of making effort. When you don't attach your worth to the outcome, then you can receive great joy in the process of learning and growing – no matter how old you are.

One of the things I always wanted was a ranch with horses. I can't even remember a time when I didn't want this. While most people my age – I’m 74 - are slowing down, retiring and travelling, I've finally realized my dream! And I'm loving it! Some people said to me, "Isn't it too much to take on at your age? Isn't it too big a risk to take on something this big?" And I answer, "If not now, when? I will not have another chance in life to manifest this dream, so I need to do it now." Others have said to me, "I admire you for taking all this on at your age." I really appreciate that support!

I've been so happy since I followed my spiritual Guidance and my inner yearning and moved to the ranch. Each day I'm in deep gratitude for this beautiful land, for the towering mountains, for our horses and our barn kittens. I'm in deep gratitude that I get to ride my horse and that I finally have an art studio after 13 years of not having one – since my house burned down.

It's never too late to manifest your dreams!

Join Dr. Margaret Paul for her 30-Day at-home Course: "Love Yourself: An Inner Bonding Experience to Heal Anxiety, Depression, Shame, Addictions and Relationships."