Don't Let the "Can't Do" Days Hold You Back

When was the last time you just enjoyed the day?

My wife and I recently got to spend a couple of days in Gatlinburg while speaking at a conference there. When we first got married, we visited often, but hadn't had time to go back in years. There were so many new things to see and do there, along with the single most terrifying moment in years as my wife walked the Skybridge there with some friends (while he husband took pictures from a safe distance).

The crazy thing was how much of a "just chill" afternoon it was for us. Normally, on a trip like that, we have to be on the move all the time. This time through, we took several hours just to breathe and enjoy the surroundings. It was such a fun and refreshing afternoon, and I hadn't realized how many similar opportunities we'd been missing.

Some people handle their day-to-day experiences a little differently than others. They live life perpetually buried beneath a pile of reasons they can't enjoy the day. They have a lot of things they'd love to do and places they'd love to see, but they don't feel like they have the time to do any of it. They live in the "Can't Do" days of life.

"I'll spend time with the family when I ____, but I can't do that today because of ______."

"I'll go visit _____ when I _____, but I can't do that today because _____ isn't done."

"I'll take a day off and rest someday, but I can't do that today because _____ isn't done."

While we all have responsibilities that require attention and sometimes can't (or shouldn't) be ignored, we have to be careful not to let those "Can't Do" days drown out the "Can Do" ones. Those "Can Do" days are the ones we most often remember and enjoy, and they are essential to our mental and emotional health.

You will always be able to find excuses and reasons to stay busy, but are those busy things really essential? Take an honest look at your calendar and see how many "Can't Do" days you've had since your last "Can Do" one. If you don't see a "Can Do" this month, then it's time to seriously examine your schedule and move some stuff around. Make time for yourself and for the things you'll be glad you did ten years from now.

Be responsible, be professional, and be your best...but don't forget to have fun along the way.