For the now

Brian and I were newly married in the summer of 1998. We were both students, with no kids and no money, happy and so in love.

My sister-in-law generously offered us tickets to Gypsy, playing at an outdoor theater in Sundance, Utah. We jumped at the opportunity.

The day of the play arrived, and it was HOT. A hot summer day that was well into the high 90s. We headed up the canyon, dressed in our shorts and T-shirts. It was going to be great!

We walked around Sundance for a while before the sun went down and the show began. The mountain air was cool and comfortable. I noticed people carrying blankets and other warm clothes under their arms. I chuckled. The weather was perfect up here!

Until it wasn’t.

The sun went down, and so did my comfort. I could not believe the drop in temperature. Gypsy started. It was wonderful and entertaining, as expected. But after about 30 minutes, my focus was lacking. I was freezing! I’m not sure I’ve ever been that cold, and growing up in Southeast Idaho—that’s really saying something. I scooted as close as I could to Brian, hoping to use some of his body heat to warm my bones. His skin was as frigid as mine.

I pulled my shirt over my legs and tried to calm my chattering teeth. I couldn’t stop shaking. Was the show still going on? Was I hypothermic? I prayed for a quick end to the performance.

Unfortunately, there was no quick. The show ran its normal time, and I shivered through every song, like the idiot I was.

Gypsy ended, and I jumped up with applause. I’ve never given such an easy standing ovation. We practically ran to the car and cranked up the heat as we drove home.

I wish this story was the only time I’ve made decisions for the now instead of the future, but it’s not. I’m just really good at now things. They are front and center, and easily visible. Too easy.

However, choices for the now are often based on feelings, not logic or goals, and that can be short-sighted. What feels good now? What do I want to do now? I nearly froze to death (literally 😜) because I didn’t plan ahead for the cold night air in the mountains of Utah.

Sometimes, planning ahead for what you truly want takes sacrifice. In order to be properly dressed when the sun went down, I needed to walk around with a blanket and sweatshirt, and possibly sweat it out for a while. While that particular sacrifice would have been small, some are much bigger and harder to make.

Regardless, it’s good to practice. Despite living in a time when many things are instantaneous and at our fingertips, the things that matter most take time, especially when we are developing our character.

And is anything more important than that?

I don’t believe so.

Even simply changing how we think about our decisions can help—switching “I’m doing this for me,” to “I’m doing this for my future self,”—the one you truly want to be.

Enough for the now choices. It’s time for something better.

Now. (just kidding)