Make "Someday" Today!

Several years ago, I stumbled across the same parable, in three different books, all in the same week. It hit me pretty hard the first time I read it, but after three times I figured that God was trying very hard to tell me something. It goes something like this:

A wealthy businessman took a vacation to a beautiful tropical island. Once there, he lounged on the white sandy beach and, every morning, watched the same fisherman haul his catch out of the turquoise waters.

"What do you do with the rest of your day?" the businessman asked the fisherman.

"After fishing, I go home, have a long meal and then lie down for a siesta with my wife," answered the fisherman. "In the evening I might sit and watch the sunset, and then have some beers with some friends."

"I've been watching you," said the businessman, "and you're very good at what you do. You should really get some other people working for you, and then you might be able to afford a boat. Soon, you could use your profits from that to buy a fleet of boats - your possibilities are endless!"

"Why would I want to do that?" asked the fisherman.

"Why, you'd be rich! Just think of all the money you'd make!" exclaimed the businessman.

The fisherman was still confused. "And what would I do with all that money?"

"For starters, you could save enough to retire early! You'd never have to work again."

"And what would I do then, if I wasn't working?" asked the fisherman.

"Well, you could spend your free time doing whatever you wanted - you could go fishing, and spend more time with your wife, take time to watch the sunset, hang out and drink beer with your friends..."

Shortly after I "coincidentally" came across this parable for the third time, I decided to stop putting my own life off for someday, and gathered the courage to do what I'd been talking about for years: I would move my base from Canada to Mexico, to live my dream of living a quiet, focused life as a writer and dancer, and to be closer to the Mexican man that I'd met and fallen in love with (we got married earlier this year). My move to Mexico turned out to be the best decision that I ever made. There, I found the peace, love and joy from which to start building the next phase of my life dream, which I'm living today.

So many of us focus on getting through the present, while dreaming of a better future - that infamous and ever-elusive "someday". What about you?

When I was a kid, I couldn't wait to be a grown-up. When I was in med school, I dreamed about the day I'd have a practice and also "have a life". When I got licensed, I decided to work really hard out of the gates, so that one day I'd be able to work less and enjoy life more. In a few years, of course.

When I look back at my childhood and my university years, I wish I'd played more and studied less. I wish I'd spent more time just being a normal, carefree person. I might not have gotten the same scholarships or attention if I hadn't worked as hard as I did, but I also might not look back at my 20's as this big vacuum, a lost decade. And does it really matter that I got 100% on that big exam?

Do you hear yourself talking to yourself, or your spouse, or your kids, or your friends, about things that you want to do, or things that you promise them you'll do together, "someday"?

I'm not suggesting you retire now, or run wild spending money on every whim instead of saving it. But, every time you catch yourself promising yourself, or someone else, what "someday" is going to be like, consider what aspect you might be able to incorporate into your life, right now. Are you fantasizing about spending retirement fishing in your cabin on the lake? Then make sure you plan some cabin and fishing time into your life, now. Do you plan to spend more time with your kids after you get your new business off the ground? Make a point of scheduling time with them, now. Life doesn't always wait for us, and all we really have is now.

New acquaintances who I meet often email me afterwards, and suggest that we go out for coffee or dinner. Over the last year, I've usually responded by saying I'm really busy, but would love to, perhaps in a few weeks. And then I'd forget. It hit me the other day, how many wonderful friendships I've probably missed out on, simply by putting that coffee off until "someday".

If you were lying on your deathbed, looking back at this time of your life, what would you tell your present-day self to do more of, today? Now go out and do it! Once you start incorporating what's important to you into your life, today, you'll be surprised how little you talk, or think, about that elusive "someday".

Dr. Susan Biali, M.D. is an internationally recognized wellness expert, life coach, speaker and flamenco dancer. Regularly featured in print, radio and television media across North America, she helps people live their dreams and teaches them how to create optimal balance, wellness and fulfillment in their lives. www.susanbiali.com