While many of us are committed to ongoing personal and professional growth, often when we learn something new or become aware of new ways of moving in the world, there is a bit of sadness. Over and over, we have heard people say with a longing or even an anger toward themselves, “Gee, I wish I had known this 20 years ago!” or “What is wrong with me, I should have known this already!” We have had that feeling as well. It’s humbling to realize that you were missing large chunks of information on your journey, but it is what you do next that really matters.
To help you think about what this process means the next time it happens to you, we’d like you to consider this wonderful Chinese proverb:
THE BEST TIME TO PLANT A TREE IS 20 YEARS AGO;
THE SECOND BEST TIME IS NOW.
Yes, it might have helped to have more information or self-awareness 20 years ago, especially when you stop to think about how amazing you would be today! Instead, imagine how amazing you will be in 20 years, if you take the time to learn it or open up to it today! Start learning and doing now, so that every tomorrow is filled with new growth and new insights.
Learn to dance, take a language course, learn to play the instrument that you have dreamed of playing, go back to school to be the thing you always wanted to be, understand that you can speak your truth and if people get mad at you, you will be okay—give yourself the gift of at least planting the seed and letting it grow. You might just amaze yourself!