What are you waiting for?

Well, folks. It's December. 2014 is officially coming to a close. It seems like just yesterday I was getting all geared up to attend a private Christian school (and live in the dorms... that was the big deal with it) and, in a sense, "get my life together."

 

So, basically, this time one year ago, I was planning a major life overhaul. At the risk of this post becoming a confessional of sorts, I'm going to give all of you young people a word of advice: Don't think transferring to a Christian college is the answer to "fixing your life" or strengthening faltering faith. It's not. *That was totally free. ;)

 

Anyway, the coming of a New Year is generally a time when people start trying to change things about their lives. It's almost like we need "landmarks" or something before we feel like we can do things. Or maybe that's just my OCD, but I have a feeling it's not. "I'm starting a diet Sunday." "I'm going to be more disciplined in 2015." "Once I start this new job, things are going to be different." We say things like this all the time, but I've noticed in the past year or so that when I try to operate like this, I usually end up NOT doing whatever I said I was going to do.

 

Maybe I just lose inspiration something. I don't know, but lately I've discovered that if I just go ahead and do whatever it is I know I need to do (like studying the Psalms or getting into a more regular writing routine) I tend to be more successful if I go ahead and do it when I get the idea, even if I get that idea on a Tuesday afternoon in the middle of December...

 

Another thing I've noticed about myself is that I sometimes say tend to say I'm just waiting for the circumstances to improve before starting something, like "I'll write that story when I get better at writing" or "I'll do that when I get to feeling better." Yet, the truth of the matter is that there will always be room for improvement when it comes to writing there are going to be thousands of other ideas to pursue as I improve my skills. Also, I have a chronic disease and there will always be ups and downs with how I'm feeling. If I spend all my time waiting, I'm never going to get anything done am I?

 

So, even though it's December and January 1st is right around the corner I encourage you to consider whether or not that "thing" you may have been planning to do with the coming of the New Year really needs to wait. Why wait to "start afresh" when you can just "finish strong" this year? Go ahead. Get on it. I honestly think it's better to do it that way.

 

What about you? Do you tend to wait for landmarks or better circumstances when starting things?

If so, what are you waiting for?