Is it "The Now" Yet?

“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today?”

-Steve Jobs

All through our lives, we plan for the future. Young professionals plan their career… young people in love plan their lives together, young parents plan their kid’s education… the list is endless. But amid all this, have you ever given thought to what you’ll do if there was no tomorrow? What if the only time you had was now? The only people you had left were those with you now?

Creepy, but a proposition of immense importance… pessimistic, but immeasurably motivating…

Right from the moment all our natural faculties of hearing, listening, seeing, feeling, interpreting and comprehending start functioning properly, we’re imbued with the constant need to secure our future, which somehow makes us lose out on the present. Let me explain…

With the boom in digital cameras, we see one around every neck, in every hand, with the self-appointed photographer clicking away to glory. I know all of you have done it too. Do you really remember those events as well as you remember those where you weren’t clicking? Or do you have to refer to those faithful pictures to remind you of your brother’s foolish grin and the random aunty’s funny expression?

Did your focus on preserving memories not spoil the present for you? I, for one, think it does.

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What do we do then? Preserve no memories?” you would say. And I would simply reply “Make each day so memorable that you don’t need memories to aid your memory. Live in the present. Do what you love. Do what makes you happy. Be happy.”

For each sun that sets, a day of your precious life has been ticked off. A day less to do more…

Why then should we waste our days thinking out a future we might never have? Why plan for possibilities that might never arise? Why cry over things and people who aren’t as important as you think?

Take up challenges and conquer them. It’ll fetch you a good night’s sleep.

Cross the line. You’ll outperform all else.

Be who you are. You’ll become what you want.

Embarrassment and Fear of Failure are perhaps the two least important emotions you need to harbor. Just follow your heart. It’ll take you to new heights.

Don't keep waiting for the perfect moment. It is NOW.

Live your life as if it is your last day…

P.S. I found Steve Jobs’ quote in this video. This post is my interpretation of the same J