"What are you waiting for?" said Nelson, looking at me impatiently. "Well? Go on. Get saddled up!"
I was eighteen years old and had just entered my first rodeo. However, the horse I expected to ride in a roping competition had taken ill. The one I was about to ride instead had an "attitude". He was known to become testy when his riders least expected it.
The seconds crawled as I stared at this beautiful and very spirited animal. "New horse. No time to make friends with him." It was a memorable lesson that procrastination isn't always an option. During the years to follow, I would learn that life is sometimes as unpredictable as a testy horse. Often, there isn't any backing out at the last minute.
Comedian Steven Wright once quipped, "I took a course in speed waiting. Now I can wait an hour in only ten minutes."
If only it were that simple when moving into unfamiliar terrain. Hesitation feels safer than stepping forward and taking risks for a dream. Yet waiting could be a greater risk. It only takes an instant to take a leap of faith, and only an instant for time to run out.
Here are some good questions to ponder:
Exactly what is it you are waiting for, and what are you doing while you wait? If it is something that requires patience, what makes the wait worthwhile? Ten minutes can seem like ten hours if your heart isn't in what you are doing.
I view Steven's "speed waiting" as more than a clever phrase. It is an art we can learn. We "speed wait" when we savor the small victories along the journey to our dreams. We "speed wait" when we pass our time with actions that uplift us and nurture the quality of life for others. When we are living from our soul, the hours melt into seamless moments of satisfaction.
At first, I had no idea what I would type into this little article. Then I read the following quotes at the top of the ezine issue I was working on: "Do not wait for a ray of ambition to guide you to your dreams. You will get there much sooner, and the light will be much brighter if you start today." - Michelle C. Ustaszeski
"Beethoven, Wagner, Bach and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand with as much regularity as an accountant settles down each day to his figures. They didn't waste time waiting for inspiration." - Ernest Newman (1868 - 1959)
"How much of human life is lost in waiting." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) I thought about Steven's intriguing course of study and remembered climbing onto that testy horse.
I recalled how the hours seem to fly when I'm doing work that I love. Then I thought, "What are you waiting for?" And in ten minutes, the waiting was over!
So, what are you waiting for? Try the art of "speed waiting" today, and enjoy every moment of the wait!
© Copyright 2005 by Steve Brunkhorst. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve your top potential. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
I'm back from Hawaii; it was ten days of physical... Read More
1. "If you have faith the size of a mustard... Read More
Writing a 'life script' is like writing a movie script.... Read More
Procrastination is when ever we postpone a task or duty... Read More
I am not a golfer, unless you count an occasional... Read More
The Three D's of Action are Decide, Do and Distinguish.... Read More
"At the end of our lives we never regret at... Read More
When I listen to people tell me about some of... Read More
Me and Mao Tse-Tung!My first political experience was with Mao... Read More
'Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot of... Read More
Do you ever postpone things, or just forget about them... Read More
January is almost over.Why do most New Year's Resolutions fail?By... Read More
For over 20 years I have been fascinated by the... Read More
It never fails. Another new year approaches. You watch that... Read More
"Life is a Tiger-ride, by no means easy, but ride... Read More
When I was a freshman in college, my first car... Read More
The grit of life is hard to swallow. You make... Read More
All of the books that we will ever need to... Read More
One of the greatest challenges facing our ever intensive quest... Read More
It is often taken for granted that the reality tomorrow... Read More
My experience tells me there are three stages people go... Read More
We all have questions about our lives, directions, and destinies.... Read More
Can you believe it, summer is almost over. Did you... Read More
Will power alone will never work over the long term.... Read More
Have you failed to create the life you want, because... Read More
There is one sure way to get what you want... Read More
Never underestimate the power of persistence!If you persist you really... Read More
Sometimes life becomes so routine, we don't have to think... Read More
We've probably all heard the famous movie quip, "why don't... Read More
One of our most powerful psychological needs is the craving... Read More
Fear is the minds great mortal sin.And isn't it just... Read More
And somehow you knew how to stay motivated...Goals are mysterious... Read More
For years, many of us heard the phrase "Knowledge is... Read More
Some people are naturally pessimistic and are happy... Read More
Imagine being able to choose any outcome and automatically feel... Read More
If you want to be a winner you have to... Read More
If you really want to be at your absolute peak... Read More
Our physical brains quickly and easily handle mundane sequences of... Read More
We all suffer from procrastination from time to time but... Read More
One of the greatest challenges facing our ever intensive quest... Read More
Allow me to start this with a quote:To think too... Read More
1. "If you have faith the size of a mustard... Read More
The first week of May is a big birthday time... Read More
As every New Year approaches, many of us are doing... Read More
Self-discipline is a powerful tool that can help you accomplish... Read More
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in... Read More
Procrastination is a delay tactic that has the ability to... Read More
Would you like to learn a skill set and technique... Read More
If procrastination is holding you back in life, these 4... Read More
I've never surfed in my life. Sometimes people tell me... Read More
'We cannot become what we need to be remaining what... Read More
You lost your job. Your partner left you. Your car... Read More
Many studies have been done to research the effects of... Read More
This is about getting started. Taking that first step. It... Read More
"Have you ever felt like you've become the worst possible... Read More
Want to hear about a simple & effective motivation technique?... Read More
It would be a fairly safe bet that if you... Read More
As the story goes, a single college-age guy went to... Read More
"The measure of your success usually comes down to who... Read More
I look out my window at daybreak as the sunrise... Read More
One fact stubbornly stays true: while everyone desires to succeed,... Read More
Do you remember that day? Perhaps it was your first... Read More
When it comes right down to it where ever you... Read More
Do you ever pay attention to the thoughts inside your... Read More
Where have you come from this past year? What have... Read More
One of the first things successful people realize is the... Read More
Motivation |