Don’t Wait, It’s a Trap
Here’s why I stopped postponing my dreams
Last week, I wrote about how it’s never too late to follow a dream. But in the days that followed, I realized something: Even though I don’t fall into the “It’s too late” trap, I used to struggle with another self-limiting belief—“It’s too soon.”
I kept telling myself I wasn’t ready. That I didn’t have enough money, experience, or confidence to go after whatever I wanted. But where was any of that supposed to come from if I did nothing about it? I would never have the money if I didn’t start saving. Experience and confidence don’t just appear—they’re earned through action, not waiting. It took me my entire twenties to fully understand this.
I do things differently now, but it took two significant life events for me to change my ways. (CW: If you don’t want to read about death, feel free to skip the next two paragraphs.)
My childhood best friend died of breast cancer before she turned thirty. She was full of dreams and furious that she didn’t get to fulfill them all. When I visited her in the hospital for what we both knew would be the last time, she made me promise to live for her, too. And if there’s ever a time to make big oaths, it’s at the deathbed of your best friend. I swore I would go after every dream, every big wish, the best I could. She passed away shortly after, and I’ve never forgotten that promise.
A year later, a dear colleague collapsed in the office the day after our Christmas party. He was the fittest person I had ever known—into all kinds of sports, always armed with the driest humor imaginable. But despite our best efforts at CPR that day, he died in the hospital from a heart attack. We were all devastated.
These memories are engraved in my mind. Whenever I catch myself procrastinating or postponing big dreams until the ever-elusive “later”, I remind myself of the privilege of being alive. I live in a country where I have the freedom to pursue my dreams. I’m (mostly) healthy and financially stable enough to at least try. My friend would have given anything for just one more trip—I can book spontaneous flights to Iceland in her honor. My colleague, an incredible athlete, had so many starting lines he still wanted to cross—I can fulfill the marathon dream for both of us.
I’m not writing this to scare anyone. But for me, it helps to regularly remind myself that later is never guaranteed. I don’t know how much time I have, but I know I have today. And that’s reason enough to start.
MORE FROM COPPER AND GOLD:
It’s Not Too Late - And You’re Not Too Old
Mental Health in Difficult Times: How to Stay Sane in a Chaotic World
copper and gold is a Substack about healthy habits and the little joys in life. Here you’ll find:
Practical tips from my studies in health psychology
Lifestyle articles about writing, culture, travel and intentional living
Personal essays on life as a millennial woman (I promise they won’t be overwhelming!)
If that sounds like your kind of read, you can subscribe for free—I’d love to have you here! 😊