A Sense of Urgency

“Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.”

Jim Rohn

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”

Leonardo da Vinci

“You must take action now that will move you towards your goals. Develop a sense of urgency in your life.”

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Tonight, with several things to do tonight, the term, “sense of urgency” popped into my head.  At the moment I’m supposed to be at a Christmas party.  The Starbucks where I’m working from only allows 30 minutes of parking.  My computer battery is low.  And December 29, the day I hope to reach 365 blogs is just a little over two weeks away.  So I’m going to work quickly and well.  Then I’m going to go the party.  Then I’m going to go home and write another blog.  I’m urgent about reaching my goals.

What does it mean to have a sense of urgency?  First, I’ll describe what it doesn’t mean. 

·      It doesn’t mean to be frantic, stressed or rush. 

·      It doesn’t mean I get to be rude because I’m “in a hurry.”

·      It doesn’t mean being a hurry.

·      It doesn’t mean being inattentive to people or situations around me.

·      It doesn’t mean I get to be afraid.

·      It doesn’t mean ignoring those I love.

Now I’ll describe what it means.

·      It means being present to people, places and activities around me.

·      It means enjoying who I’m with and what I’m doing or doing something else.

·      It means knowing there’s nothing more important at the moment than the moment I’m in.

·      It means moving towards my goals in a joyful, focused manner.

·      It means that I have a single-minded focus on whatever is in front of me. 

Right now this blog is in front of me.  Then the party will be in front of me.  Then it will be the drive home.  Then it will be another blog.   

Why am I urgent?  I’m urgent because I have goals I want to reach.  And yes, I could work on them later.  But often I find out, later, that there is no such thing as later.  There is no such thing as spare time.  If I want to work, or rest, or look at Christmas trees, or sit on the rocks at the beach,  or talk to a friend, or save money for my house on the beach, or hug my kids, or clean my car, then now is the time.  There is no tomorrow.  There is no later. 

There is only now.  That’s all there has ever been. 

So I have a sense of urgency about this blog, about making money, about being more loving, about reading, writing  and studying more, and about being happy.   I have a sense of urgency about being grateful and taking care of myself.   And I have a sense of urgency about getting to the Christmas party.  So it’s time to Get Started and Keep Going…urgently.