Don’t Wait to Start Living

Last Sunday my husband and I were hiking.  I had been fighting a mild cold all week and really wanted to sleep in, but we got out of bed and got outside.  We hiked a trail that we had done earlier in the summer and I was worried it was going to take us longer than the previous time (it did, but only 10 minutes). 

As we were hiking I was talking to him about the days that I dreamed about being a person that went on hikes and enjoyed being outside.  I used to tell myself when I get skinny again, or when I lose weight…then I will start doing the things I really want to do.  Now that I can look back at that version of myself, I realize that is no way to live.

I was not in physical shape to be hiking up a mountain at the time, however, putting off my dreams until I lost weight or looked like society thinks I should is unacceptable.  In fact, it wasn’t actually living at all. It was just a way for me to ignore my dreams and stay in the same place. An excuse to not leave my comfort zone and grow as a human being and a woman.

I am not saying everyone needs to get out and hike, but we all have things we want to do with our lives and we need to stop waiting.  If you put your life on hold until you have the ideal body or enough money, you may never do the things you desire.  I didn’t just take a giant leap from hoping for a better, healthier version of myself to hiking.  It took many small decisions to learn and love myself and my body, to eating better and finally to working out again.  I am so damn happy I did the work and continue to do the work. 

If you have something you have been putting off because you are waiting for the perfect moment, remember that moment might be right now. Sometimes you must take a deep breath and go for it. Whatever that dream is that you are holding on too, figure out how you can make small changes and choices to start working towards that. 
Life doesn’t stop and wait until we are ready.  Almost everything that matters in life takes a leap of faith and a lot of work. 

​So just go for it!