People Building

If you’ve ever read a book The Yes Man (seen the film which isn’t nearly as good) you’ll know a thing or two about being spontaneous. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, it is the story of a man who decides to say “yes” more often and the journey that follows as a rest of this new rule.

I am not a procrastinator. I think like many people, there are some things that I find it easier to get on and do than other things. However recently I have been so busy I was fully aware that I had lost (or momentarily misplaced) the skills of spontaneity.

Tiredness, business, busyness and sheer laziness had been holding me back. I realised it was June and I hadn’t kept my new years resolutions. Of course many people do not keep their new years resolutions. However they tend to realise this before June!

I was aware of the problem and decided I’d do something about it. As soon as I had the time…

Then last weekend, I rather randomly thought of a composer and pianist that I really wanted to see in concert. On Friday night at about 11pm, I searched for him in the Internet to see when his next visit to London might be. To my surprise he was performing in London the next night!

I thought about how busy I was. I thought about how I should really think about spending my money on other things, I thought about the fact I’m in the middle of a master practitioner training and have to get up early. So I decided not to go and instead see when he would be returning to London later in the year.

Sometimes when there is something you just need to get on and do, life will give you a poke. Sometimes pokes from life might be painful or uncomfortable but sometimes they are just pokey. I’m pleased to report that this poke was the pokey sort.

You see the composer was not returning to London again this year. Here was my chance to see/hear/experience some amazing music that I’d been longing to enjoy live for the last 3 or 4 years.

So I had a word with myself. I reminded myself that tiredness, laziness, business and busyness don’t have any arms. Therefore there was no conceivable way that they could be “holding me back.” The only thing holding me back was the limitations of my thinking- the only thing stopping me, was me.

So I got myself a ticket to the concert and I went. As I write this I’m on the train home evaluating my spontaneous decision.

Would it have been easier if I’d stayed home tonight? Yes.
Would I have got more sleep if I hadn’t gone out? Yes.
Could I have waited until next year to attend a concert with this composer? Yes.

But ultimately I’m going to be working better over the next few weeks as I’ve met a need within myself. I’ve also had a brilliant time and got a lovely memory of it for the memory bank. Yes I am very tired but, I’m also sharing a train carriage with a bunch of Bon Jovi fans (I think they must have been in concert tonight too) and I’m reminded of a relevant song lyric by said long-haired rock band. “I’ll live while I’m alive and sleep when I’m dead. ”

If you have been lacking spontaneity like I had, I’d like to remind you in the kindest possible way that YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.  It is a sad but true fact and no matter what happens next you may not get the opportunities available to you today ever again.

It’s important that you make the most of them.

Crap. I just missed my station. Damn spontaneity!!!!