“Twenty years from now you’ll be extra disenchanted by the belongings you didn’t do than by those you probably did do.” ~Mark Twain
Let me set the scene.
It’s a blistering summer time day in Miami—the type the place the humidity hugs you tighter than your ex at a highschool reunion, and the air feels such as you’re swimming by way of heat soup. Not precisely the sort of climate that makes you wish to transfer, not to mention sweat by way of a shock death-match exercise on Muscle Seashore.
However there I used to be.
The coach—clearly a drill sergeant in a previous life—barks out: “Another rep and we’re achieved!”
Ah, sure. The well-known final phrases of each group health class ever.
Spoiler: We have been not achieved.
That “yet another rep” became ten extra workouts, every extra punishing than the final. By the tip, I used to be satisfied my legs had filed for emancipation. My tank prime might’ve been used to mop the ground. And but… beneath the exhaustion was a wild, inexplicable sense of aliveness.
As we collapsed onto the grass post-torture, I tilted my head to the sky—not for inspiration, however maybe divine rescue. As an alternative, I acquired clouds. Large, moody ones, rolling in quick.
Now, as a Miami native, I knew what was coming. Rain. In 5 minutes, give or take.
Our group—equal components sweaty and semi-traumatized—determined to seize meals at a close-by Greek spot six blocks away. It will’ve been a simple name… if the climate weren’t about to show right into a tropical tantrum.
And that’s when the talk started: “To Uber or to not Uber?”
That was the second.
That was the query that cracked open one thing larger than I anticipated.
As a result of I discovered myself considering—not virtually, however existentially: What would make the higher story?
Ubering dry and cozy? Or strolling into the storm, drenched and laughing?
You may guess which one I selected.
We set off on foot.
The primary raindrops have been tentative, virtually well mannered. Then got here the downpour. The actual deal. Inside moments, we have been soaked to the pores and skin—however free.
We splashed by way of puddles. We screamed. We laughed like children who have been allowed to remain up previous bedtime.
After we lastly burst into the restaurant—drenched, windswept, and grinning—we seemed like a gaggle of joyful chaos incarnate. Nobody cared about how they seemed. Nobody regretted the stroll.
As a result of we didn’t simply select a meal. We selected a reminiscence.
So now I’ll ask you an identical factor I requested myself: What would make the higher story?
Not the better one. Not the polished one. Not the one which retains you neat and unbothered.
The higher story. The one with coronary heart and danger and coloration. The one the place you come alive—even should you get somewhat messy within the course of.
We are likely to make decisions primarily based on consolation or management. We decide what’s handy. Predictable. Protected. However the tales we keep in mind—and those we’re proud to inform—often begin with a second of uncertainty.
A leap. A sure. A “Why not?”
Perhaps it’s the connection that felt like a danger however became one thing actual.
Perhaps it’s the day you lastly stood up for your self, though your voice trembled.
Perhaps it’s the job you didn’t really feel prepared for however stated sure to anyway.
Or possibly, like me, it’s only a stroll within the rain that reminded you ways alive you actually are.
Your life is made up of tales.
And every single day, you’re writing the following line.
So what is going to or not it’s right now? Will you play it secure? Or will you select the model of today—the model of your self—that you simply’ll be proud to look again on?
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