Urgency

I was reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius last year, and one quote in particular stood out to me:

"Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good."

The stoics would say this passage advocates for living a virtuous life while you're still able to, a different kind of good than I thought about initially. Instead of reading it literally as "be good", I thought about it as "be great".

I read this in a time of self doubt, and just that last sentence revitalized my confidence and set me straight. It reminded me that time is fleeting, and that you'll look back and regret not doing things. You'll regret not taking that risk, not taking that trip, not putting all your being into the things you're passionate about even though you are capable. All to stay comfortable.

I want to be great.

There is nothing to gain in comfort or complacency. Nothing. Set big goals. Ones so distant that there is no clear path forward. How badly do you want it? That's the only deciding factor of whether or not you'll reach it. You will regret not trying.

While you can, be great.