I was
happy to walk into one of my favorite stores to discover that they were having a
sale on sale items. Fortune smiled on me
as I snagged great finds at great prices.
As I came to the register, the clerk said “Just so you know, these items
are on final sale.”
“Okay,
that’s fine, thanks.” A smooth response
on the exterior was accompanied by an inward moment of brief panic, a darting
scan through my items, aaaand the moment of decision. (Very important matters here.) I bought them all.
As I
have unpacked or worn the items this week, each time I rip off a tag, I am
reminded that I don’t need to deliberate; I already made the decision, these
are mine, and I might as well wear the heck out of ‘em and enjoy the odd sense
of freedom that comes with the ‘final sale’ decision.
The
month has been full of good conversations.
Recently I spoke with a friend about the impossibility of having a cake
and eating it too. Other than the
obvious point of the proverb (I must choose one thing or the other), it’s worth
noting that by wanting both options but failing to decide, I lose both options. By staying committed to indecision, inner
paralysis wins, no choice is exercised, and neither option gets a fair
shake.
But, if
a choice is made, if one option is pursued, I can learn if it’s right or
wrong. I can experience joy and sorrow
instead of paralysis. And I can just
experience…period. Using what I am
given, in the time that I have, keeping goodness and truth in mind, I just need
to choose.
“And you
have your choices. These are what make
man great, his ladder to the stars.”
- Timshel,
Mumford & Sons
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to
draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid
plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves
too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all
manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no
man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream
you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it
now.”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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