Tucked away in the quaint town of Staunton, Virginia, sits Serendipity Java Bar, a glorious retreat for coffee lovers and the location that would nudge me into action. One beautiful October morning, while sipping on a latte in the back room, I looked up and saw a sign that I couldn’t get out of my mind.
LIFE IS NOW IN SESSION. Reality check, Tara. This is not a dress rehearsal. Nope, this is it. I believe we each have one life to live and are here for a purpose. We have been given an opportunity to contribute, and the time is now.
So why might this sign strike me so powerfully? Why am I still thinking about this sign four months later?
One of my biggest fears in life is that I’ll look back and regret that I didn’t give it my all. That I didn’t try the small things and that I didn’t pursue my lofty dreams. I often think if I die today, would I be satisfied that I gave it my all? Apparently, I’m not alone. As Daniel Pink reveals in The Power of Regret:
Over time, people regret what they didn’t do more than what they did do. Regrets of inaction are far more common than regrets of action.
I am the ultimate planner and constantly dream of what’s on the horizon. This sign reminds me to be present. Enjoy the now and take action today. Push send on the email, sign up for the course, and smell the rose in front of you instead of only dreaming of the rose garden.
I used to say that someday I’d start blogging again. It feels good to say that someday is today because I’m living as if life is now in session. And thus, this blog is born.