Do It Now

The Universe has dealt harshly with my procrastination lately. I would like the Universe to know that I am paying attention! No more motivating events are needed!

They predicted snow that last weekend in October and yet I came home with a mostly empty gas tank and parked in the back, nearest the back door. There are two driveways and this one was under a big tree but it is easier to get in and out of—usually. As the snow began to accumulate, I was less and less inclined to go out and get gas or even to move the car. Until it began to get dark and the branches cracked as they fell. They missed the car but blocked the drive. So with heavy snow continuing to fall, I cleaned the car and drove through the yard to park in a place I could have parked Friday safely out of reach of falling trees. Sunday, my cell phone had been without access to electricity over 12 hours. I remembered all those times I kept thinking I should buy a car charger, just in case. But on Sunday, I did not have one. Also on Sunday I did not have gas in the car to get to a place with electricity. So I waited in line at one of the two gas stations on Lehigh Street with electricity. I amused myself thinking of how simple it would have been to buy gas on Friday. 

The whole snow storm experience has made me think about all the right things I know to do that I do not. It has made me think about all the right things that we all really know, on some level, are the right things to do but with a million excuses and rationalizations, we do not do them. I realize I created a great deal of my own stress during the recent storm simply in the things I did not do. I have come to the humble conclusion that we already know how to solve most of our own problems and by interconnection, the problems of our world. We are simply not ready or willing to do what we know is the right thing to do. 

In response to recent bank charge increases and a few people’s efforts, one million people closed their accounts and moved their money to smaller banks and credit unions, less concerned with huge profits. I am pretty sure all those one million people already knew the benefits of the smaller organizations but somehow they needed some painful stimulus to motivate them to act. 

What would happen if we all stopped procrastinating about doing the right thing and just did the things we already know to do? What if we made conscious choices instead of continuing to do what is most convenient or familiar? It sounds overwhelming when you make it vague and general but when I think about the storm, only a few different choices would have made a difference. A crisis helps us focus. After September 11, 2001, I no longer leave “I love you” unsaid. I forgive as quickly and completely as I can. We all have simple choices we can make that have an impact on our world. We can buy locally. We can make efficient use of the resources we have. We can be grateful for what is already ours. We can share generously with others from what we have. We can choose just one issue, one place and put our energy into making a difference with our choices and our gifts. I am only limited by my beliefs about my limitations. Those who give fearlessly, love excessively and dream extravagantly accomplish great things even if they impact only one. 

A famous philosopher once said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Our neighborhood is not only within walking distance but it is now global. My words, my actions and my choices are pebbles that can ripple around the world in technology and impact. I know what the loving thing to do is. Often, when I pause to think, I know what the right thing to do is. I am not inviting the Universe to give me any more cosmic prompts to choose to do the right thing now. I begin today.