Waiting For Perfect

Lin and new friends hiking in Alaska, 1976 ... lunch break

Avoiding some weather condition,
Can cause regrettable omission
Of things you might do.
Things that could bring you
An upsurge of joy and ambition.

Do you wait for “perfect” conditions to act?

Recently a friend asked me ...
Had I been out on my bicycle?

My answer was,
No, I had not been outside on my bike.
Too chilly,
Too damp,
Too ... something.

When the weather is really Spring,
Then I'll ride regularly.
Hmmm ...

In the mid-1970's,
Our family lived in SE Alaska
For nearly two years.
Rain, at least drizzle, was constant.
It was often bone-deep chilly.
Always some weather condition
That could keep us inside.

Fairly quickly we learned that
If we were waiting for perfect conditions,
We would never go to the shore with our picnic.
Never take the opportunity to
Explore shorelines and mountain trails,
Always use weather as a "stopper.”

Back in mid 70's when we lived in Juneau,
Most days were grey and at least drizzly.
Days of sunshine were so rare that
They were the opposite of MN Snow Days
Which closed down schools and
Sometimes businesses.

When there was one of the
Rare bright, sunny days,
That day was declared a
Sun Day, school was closed.
Time for getting out in the
Elusive sunshine.

We learned that if we were
Waiting for perfect weather,
We would never explore the
Wonders of where we were living.

It was a lesson we carried with us.

I thought I had made it
Part of my operational mode.

Guess I need to be reminded.

When you're waiting for the
"Perfect" something before
Taking the opportunity,
You are risking missing
Doing Life.

Biking,
Joining in,
Trying out,
Getting going—
Do Not Wait.

NOW is what we have.
Let's take it.

Hugs,
Lin