Now

"Now is the only time we have." -Richard Carlson

One rainy afternoon last spring, I found myself in a garden full of blooming allium. 

Perfect spheres of tiny purple flowers, swaying gently on tall, rigid stems and looking like something straight out of Dr. Seuss. 

Over the years - and decades - I've seen other allium now and then and thought how delightfully whimsical they are and how fantastic it would be to have some one day.

One day.

I never put a time stamp on that wish. Just a vague thought pushed to the middle background of my mind that eventually I'd get around to those allium. 

I figured I had plenty of time.

Well. Something in my way of thinking has changed.

Because last spring, when I drew in my breath and smiled at those wonky purple flowers, a pair of words came into my mind.

Next year.

Yes. I told myself, no more "one day" thinking. There's no more time to waste. By next spring, I told myself, I will have my own allium blooming happily in my very own garden, and that's that. 

And so I do. 

I still have plenty of time in my life to dream more dreams and make them come true. But now I'm completely focused on the follow through.

Instead of saying, "One day," my mantra these days is "Now."