Do It Anyway
Do It Now
When I was 20 years old as I was considering whether to join the Air Force and leave my small hometown in Georgia, I visited my Aunt Clara in the hospital who sadly was dying from breast cancer. As I stood beside her bed and we talked about what I had been doing, I told her about my interest in the Air Force but my doubts and fears of the unknown. She held my hand and said, “Do it anyway. You will always have doubts and fears, but life is too short. Do it anyway and do it now.” I smiled through my tears, squeezing her hand, thanking her, and telling her I love you.
Sadly, Aunt Clara died from breast cancer in her early 40’s shortly after that visit. I joined the Air Force, regardless of my fear of the unknown, because of that conversation with Aunt Clara, and my life changed for the better with many adventures. Now, 30+ years later, I remember and honor Aunt Clara and am thankful for her message and conversation. And I pass it along to you. If there’s something you are passionate about doing and hesitating out of fear of the unknown, do it anyway, do it now. Are there fears and risks? Absolutely! Should you assess and plan for them? Yes, as best possible. But you will still have doubts and fears and still, do it anyway. If you try it and things don’t work out, then you change again or go back to where you were before. There are choices available to you. But if you don’t do it, you’ll always wonder “what if.”
A young man I worked with years ago in government consulting, was having a self described quarter life crisis at 25. He had lived, studied in university, and worked on the east coast in of the U.S. in government spaces his entire life. He got the opportunity to work for a commercial company doing completely different work on the west coast, but was having doubt and fear of the unknown. As we talked, I could hear my Aunt Clara’s voice in my ear whispering her advice from years before. I paid that advice forward by telling the young man to do it anyway. I reminded him that he could go out and try this new job and location, and if it didn’t work he could always come back to the east coast and government work. That’s been about 15 years ago and that young man took the opportunity, loved it, never moved back, and is thriving. Even if he did move back, that’s still a win in my book because he took the chance and explored new things.
Now, as an older man and a professional coach, I see coaching clients struggling with the same fear of the unknown. I see friends close to my generation and younger sadly dying way too young, or struggling with life altering health issues, or having their lives significantly disrupted by domestic or global events beyond their control and having to redefine their next chapter and life. As I’ve said in other posts and articles recently, you and I may find ourselves in chapters of life we didn’t plan, but we still get to participate in writing the next chapter. Our stories, your story isn’t finished. There are more chapters to write.
I encourage you to reflect on your stories and what things you want to do but fear of the unknown is holding you back. What would happen if you did it anyway and did it now? It’s ok to assess the risks and your risk tolerance. Nobody is suggesting to take risks blindly without knowing what the repercussions may be for you. But what I am saying is that after you’ve done your best analysis and understand the risks and determined your risk tolerance, there will still be a fear of the unknowns, but at some point, do it anyway, do it now, and push beyond the fear. Beyond that fear is a world where you may discover new adventures and experiences, live your best life and thrive!
I know I’ve probably written similar newsletters many times on this topic, but it is so important and can’t be repeated enough in my opinion. As cliche as it sounds, life is way too short and fragile. Make the most of every moment. The lesson from Aunt Clara, me, and this young man, do it anyway and do it now because your story has many new chapters to write, and as always, Your Story Matters.
