later now

When did now become an undetermined, unclaimed date in the future? A date with no date on the calendar, one that may never be found in our destiny no matter how many promises to keep we make with others and ourselves. Last time I checked, the definitions of now are 1) at the present time as opposed to in the past or future and 2) at once, so again I ask, when did now become later, when did now lose its sense of immediacy?

Opportunities arise, “yes” springs from our lips yet when it’s time for the commit, we opt instead to continue to linger beyond the expiration date with things that don't bring us joy. We self soothe with excuses not realizing that if we take just a minute now, it could stretch the length of a mile... if we open ourselves to that possibility.

Now is what gets put to the side when something more pressing befalls us, often forgotten as the obstacles of life tumble us along. We forget that not all challenges are insurmountable, that now may pass us by if we stop everything when the curtain rises and the scene in front of us is not the performance we bought the ticket for.

We all want to believe that we have plenty of time to get to now. Some of us even believe we need to suffer long and hard before we can do what our heart and soul desires, before we deserve to breathe life into our dreams whatever they are. As the year progresses, I am often reminded that now is no longer for many so I now ask, what are we waiting for?

I love picking dandelions to blow their fuzzy white seeds into the air, have so since childhood. Like little fairies floating up and away, they carry my wishes along to the unseen. Nature (and a strong gust of wind) dictates that the time for this moment of magical delight passes quickly; now is the/my time.

keep your peepers open!®