Waiting to Live

"If not Now, when?"

Zen Saying

Many people are waiting for something to happen so that they can actually begin living. They wait for the right partner, they wait for the right time, they wait for permission from others, or they wait until they retire. Meanwhile, the precious moments tick by, and life flows inexorably onward, with little care about our plans for the future. In this waiting game, we lose the beauty and joy that life has to offer, right Now. Lost in the hope that our future holds the long-awaited happiness that we long for, we delay our diving into the immediacy of the present moment, where joy and satisfaction are waiting for us in the turning of our everyday lives.

The Buddha once said that people often get to the end of their days, only to discover that they never really lived at all. Lost in the belief that the future will be better than the present moment, they ignore the opportunities to fully live their lives with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure, and wander about with a sense of fear and dread. They put on hold the dreams and adventures that they long to take, convincing themselves that something else needs to happen before they can be fully alive, here and now.

When you find yourself holding back and waiting for a better time to enjoy the present moment, ask yourself, 'What am I waiting for?' Look and see if there's anything that is holding you back from living, and enjoying, the life of your dreams, right Now. Better yet, bring your awareness fully into the present moment, and have a look at whether there's anything lacking right Now. Really look! In this deep looking, we may discover that, not only is there nothing lacking here and now, but the possibility for living with joy and fulfillment is already possible exactly where we are. Amazing. So, what are you waiting for?