Wake up

"But I'm already awake!" you say. No, no you're not. You get out of bed in the morning. You go about your day. You get home and spend time in front of a TV or computer. You go to bed. And you repeat this every day. It's routine, and routine is easy.

You might have goals or plans. Something you'd like to do someday. Write a book or run a marathon. But that can wait. After all, there's always tomorrow. You haven't really started your life yet. When you finish that project next month, then you'll have plenty of time for everything you ever wanted to do.

Oh, but this is not true. Your life has already begun. In fact, it started a very long time ago. But maybe you didn't notice? You have habits, rituals that formed long ago. No longer do you need to plan or question everything you do. Not once do you need to think, or spend time alone with your thoughts. Doing such will often lead to painful thoughts, and after all, distractions are cheap and plentiful. You can just coast; moving through time but not much else.

Stop. Take a look at the room around you. Take a real hard look. Take a look at yourself. This is what your life has led to so far, and there is no going back. This is it. Do you like it? Want to change it? You can. Break the routine. Stop waiting for something to happen or the perfect opportunity, because it will never come. Realise that the confines that limit you are merely the confines that your mind has created.

Every second that passes is one that will never come back. Make a change. Take a risk. Stop coasting and take control. Not tomorrow. Not in ten minutes. Now. Take a deep breath.

And wake up.