Grant Cyster on living life to the full

Grant Cyster

I've seen it said that regret for things done can be tempered by time, but regret for things not done is inconsolable. These words have stuck with me since the moment I read them. They have echoed a sentiment that I have long clung to. Better it is to take risks in life in pursuit of a wild adventure, even at the expense of bruising your head, than to wrestle with the bitterness of regret over chances never taken and paths never followed. "What would've happened if I...?". "I wonder what...". "I wish I...". These kinds of mental gymnastics are the cause of many an unresolved longing...especially when it becomes too late to do anything about them.

One thing I'm always reminded of is the fleeting nature of time. It seems that when we're looking forward to some anticipated event that it seems to tick by slowly. However, once that event has arrived and is over with, we realize just how rapidly time has elapsed. How often have we reminisced about something that happened years ago that feels like it only took place yesterday? That tells me that a life well lived has less to do with the anticipation of some future circumstance, and more to do with doing our best to actually enjoy the experience every moment along the way.

What is it that you are passionate about? What have you always desired to do, but put off innumerable times because you thought or were told that the idea was too stupid, too risky, or just way beyond your capabilities? What kinds of experiences have you disqualified yourself from because you see yourself as inadequate or incompetent? My guess is that the list of things we can all identify here in that regard is incredibly long and varied. Perhaps you've compared yourself to someone else seemingly more talented, resourced or accomplished and just thought your own efforts to be entirely pointless. Maybe you've been told all your life that you are good for nothing and that you'll never amount to anything worthwhile. Possibly your previous attempts at pursuing your dreams have ended in nothing but heartache and discouragement. The fear and the experience of failure and the unknown has squelched many a dream and replaced it with the numbing "safety" of predictability and familiarity. And all the while the clock of life ticks by and yet another irreplaceable moment is lost to the clutches of inactivity and doubt.

For some reading this article, you've always desired to learn how to play an instrument. For others, you want to travel and experience more of the world. There are those of you who feel called to leave the comfort of a salary check in the pursuit of a vocation that is infinitely more rewarding yet very unconventional. There are loved ones we have never said the words "I love you" to. There are broken relationships that we never took the time to mend...apologies that we never bothered to offer...forgiveness that we never did extend. There are the books and songs that we are too fearful to write. The romance that we are too cautious to pursue. The friendships that we are too timid to explore. We can think of the friend or the colleague who we are too nervous to share the love of God with. We hold all these precious opportunities and more in our hands and watch them steadily slip through our fingers as fear renders our grip over them useless. My friends...this is not to be the case. We must not let it be, for our heavenly Father has graced us with a spirit of power, love and sound mind...not one of cowering timidity.

And so what if we fail? I am absolutely convinced that when we survey our lives from the twilight of our earthly journey, that it is not these failures that will weigh us down with regret. Rather, it will be the knowledge that we settled for mediocrity and mere morsels when the feast that was laid before us would have been immeasurably more satisfying and fulfilling...had we but had the courage to sink our teeth into it. To quote a line from Braveheart...one of my all-time favorite movies: "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." Life was meant to be an untamed adventure. Our accumulated scars and bruises in engaging it are evidence of our liberty and boldness in embracing it, not of our defeat in being overwhelmed by it. After all, the tragedy is not in being tackled to the ground whilst pursuing our dreams. The tragedy is in failing to stain the field of play with our sweat and our blood in chasing after them. The tragedy is in existing on earth without passion and purpose...a fate far short of what we were all created and destined for.

Dare to dream. Dare to do. I dare you!