Livin' Life to the Fullest

Procrastination. The inevitable habit of delaying or postponing something. We all struggle with procrastination in our day to day lives. For example, we have an essay or a blog post due every Saturday by 11:59 p.m. We also have questions due the night before every class, also by 11:59 p.m. Determination talks to me in my head saying, “Go ahead and get it done when your classes for the day are over. That way you’ll be free the rest of the night.” However, procrastination takes its toll and I end up submitting my assignment under an hour until it’s due. In another scenario, procrastination pushes me so far that I simply forget about the assignment and end up using one of the delighted favors we are given. Procrastination is a parasite in the minds of a college student, like myself, and can cause so much regret. Marcus Aurelius highlights this issue of procrastination in his reflections, Meditations.

My struggles with procrastination have mainly to do with school. However, Marcus Aurelius’ struggles were much more intellectual than most of ours. On page 16 he states, “So we must have a sense of urgency, not only for the ever closer approach of death, but also because our comprehension of the world and our ability to pay proper attention will fade before we do.” We don’t know when our time will be up on this world. Marcus is trying to say live each day like it’s your last because you don’t know when the end is. If we don’t do the things we meant to than was our life really fulfilled? I believe his sense of urgency is much needed in our day to day lives. Marcus Aurelius does not want us to live in regret of the things we didn’t get to do, whether that be a big life decision or a small topic such as doing your homework. We all will eventually die, we just don’t know when. Therefore, try and reach your goals every day before time runs out.

On that same page (16) Marcus Aurelius also says, “We should also attend to things like these, observing that even the incidental effects of the processes of Nature have their own charm and attraction.” In the beginning of this statement, I think he is meaning attend to our goals that we have set in our minds. Like I said before, we must try to reach these goals every day so we do not live regretful. However, in the second part of his statement, he’s saying that Nature will takes its toll. You should be focused on your goals all the time but he’s saying that Nature will have a little speed bump here and there. Do not always expect things to go smoothly. You may have a way of going about things, but if that way gets altered, don’t just give in. Marcus is saying to be ready for these speed bumps so you’ll be able to just go along with it and adjust. Things aren’t always perfect.

Overall do not let procrastination take over your lives. A wise man once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you didn’t take.” Have that urgency of getting things done and I believe you’ll live a much more driven life. In addition, do not expect perfection in everything you do. Expect those imperfections and mold them into your lives.