But What Now?

Everyone asks this question. It’s in books on how to find your passion, it’s on websites about finding your passion, and it’s probably in the back of most everyone’s minds.

But do we really take the question seriously? Or do we take it too seriously? It’s like our life is hanging in the balance waiting for the right answer. That’s enough to scare anyone into not knowing the answer.

At what cost, though? I’ll venture to say, it’s at the cost of our very lives!

Life is now. Always has been and always will be. Has been and will be were now and will be now. So why all the anxiety?

I know why for me. I’ve gotten caught up in the definitions. I’ve gotten caught up in “doing it right.” And I’ve gotten caught up in being the perfect employee. Let’s face it, who are we trying to impress?

Why am I writing this? I’m writing it because life is now and I’m sorry to report that I’ve squandered so much time not being present. Not just thinking about what I’m going to have for dinner but thinking about what am I going to be doing in 5 years?

I used to hate that that question even existed as such a big deal for goal setting. I think it’s such a huge disservice to even ask it. Sure, maybe there’s merit to having some idea about where you want your life to be, but I think it can kill our spirits. It’s as though we have to align ourselves with some corporate business plan.

In the meantime, here we are, flesh and blood, alive, not truly living.

So, what do you love to do? Do you even have a clue? For me, I don’t fully know. Let’s see, I love to eat, I love to walk on the beach, I love to spend time with my cat, I love to build computer systems, I love to sit in coffee shops and play on my computer, and sometimes I even love to play my guitar when I’m not worried about playing like Jimi Hendrix… Wow, maybe I know more about myself than I thought.

And I love to keep learning new things. And I love having a good night’s sleep. That’s the beauty of being alive, now. It doesn’t matter how old we are, it matters how alive we are.