Often times, when I am chatting with women my age and older, I find that our conversations are usually surrounding the desire to accomplish a particular goal. Most women within the age bracket of 25-30 typically want to go back to school, but what holds them back is this idea of “waiting on the right time”. There is no better time than NOW!

There are 24hrs in a day. Some of us spend about 6-9 of those hours in bed, another 5 procrastinating, 8 at work and we may do something productive or nothing at all with the remaining 2-3 hours.

A former Professor of mine once said “add hours to your day”. When he said that, I was confused. How? How could hours be added to the already predetermined 24hours? I later realized what he meant; which is that we must make time for what is most important. Sleep for a suggested 7-8hours per night – although, I can’t say that for myself – I’m a 4-5hours per night kind of gal. Hours spent procrastinating can be spent planning, preparing, executing: applying for that job or studying for that big test. Soon you’ll find that you’ve added hours to your day.

What better time to start living in the now than the start of a new year. Let this be one of your New Year’s Resolutions. Look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I’m going to start living TODAY.” The Bible says in Matthew 6:34 (NIV) “therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” Go ahead, take that trip that you’ve been wanting to take for the past year, take that step toward getting that degree. Four years may have gone by and well, if you had started 4 years ago you’d be a graduate today.

In my own experience, all of “my living” was scheduled to begin after I graduated from Medical School. It left me in an unhappy state, feeling stagnant as if the world was moving and people were evolving while I stayed the same. I had convinced myself that my schedule wouldn’t allow for all of the things that I wanted to do. Some of that was true. Most of the shooting for the stars ideas that I had were rooted in my successful completion of Medical School. However, I realized that traveling and seeing other parts of the world and starting this blog had no real link to my schooling. It could all be done with proper planning.This year, it’s time to live in the now. No more “when I get here, then I’ll do this”. If you want to go someplace or do something, take the necessary steps toward getting there; DO IT TODAY. I’m always inspired by Nicki Minaj’s song Moment for Life especially the verse where she says “I believe that life is a prize but, to live doesn’t mean you’re alive.” This has so much meaning and can be understood in so many different ways. Firstly, there are many of us that are living physically, but are dead on the inside. Our dreams and ambitions have died along with the hope for a better life or even true love. It is time to live again and find the fire in side of each of us.

Lao Tzu once said, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”. Not much is known about Lao Tzu’s life but, it’s said that he was referring to humble beginnings; that great things come from humble beginnings. I also believe in the literal meaning of this quote, which is that in order to get to any destination you have to start the journey with one step. You will not fulfill your dreams if you continue to push things off until “the prefect time.” Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring so live today; be happy today!

I believe once this is done, life becomes a little less stressful because you’re one step closer to fulfilling your goal. Each day make the conscious decision to live for that day.

Photo Credit: 1st