If someone told you tomorrow that it would be your last day on earth, could you say that you have lived the life you always imagined you would? Could you say you took risks, changed lives, went on adventures, and tried new things? I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is choosing to remain comfortable with their life because they are afraid to step out of their comfort zone and just live! Life is so precious, but the downfall is that none of us will live forever. So with the time we are all given, I believe we should take each day to experience, learn, or create something new. Why not start doing all of the things you wish to do in your life now?
“Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage—20 seconds of embarrassing bravery and I promise you something great will come of it.” I once heard this in a movie and thought it was an amazing way to think about facing your fears and doing things that would be out of the “norm” for you. No matter if it is asking the cute girl across the room on a date or jumping from a plane, do something you could never see yourself doing and it will be one of the most amazing feelings you have ever felt. Why fear 20 seconds? Think about how many amazing things you can do throughout your life if you just face those 20 seconds.
Every time I think of this topic, I think of the first time I ever rode a roller coaster. All my life, I always missed out on riding rides—especially roller coasters—due to the fact that I was terrified. To be honest, I am not really sure what I was so afraid of. It was just fear of doing something that made me feel uncomfortable. Then came the first day I visited my long-distance boyfriend for the summer. He said he had a surprise for me, and after the long ride there, he asked me to open my eyes. There before me was an amusement park filled with roller coasters! I remember waiting in line. I had never been so afraid, but I was more afraid to tell him I had never ridden one before. I sat in the seat, strapped in, wiping my sweaty palms from the nerves that had been bottled up for this moment for so long. As our cart made its way up the hill we reached the top, and at that moment, my 20 seconds kicked in. As the roller-coaster came to an end, wind in my hair, and smile on my face, I realized that I never would have experienced such a rush if I never took those 20 seconds.
So shut your eyes, take your 20 seconds, and do something amazing. One day when you reach the end of your time on earth, you can look back and say, “I lived the life I always imagined."
