The Best Time to Plant a Tree
Wayne Martin
The Best Time to Plant a Tree is 10 Years Ago
These are true words, for sure. But let’s remember to complete the proverb with the essential second half:
“The best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago; the second-best time to plant a tree is right now.”
As in:
The best time to quit smoking is 10 years ago. The second-best time to quit smoking is right now.
The best time to learn mindfulness is 10 years ago. The second-best time to learn mindfulness is right now.
The best time to pursue my dream is 10 years ago. The second-best time to pursue my dream is right now.
And so on.
I love this proverb because it yanks me out of a cycle of regret about past inaction. Regret cycles can keep you dwelling on failures and missed opportunities. Regret is always bound to the past, where it is impossible to take action.
Instead this proverb lands me squarely in the present and invites me to begin to act - now! And guess what? It turns out that:
The best time to begin a blog is 10 years ago. The second-best time to begin a blog is right now!