Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have time in their busy schedules, didn’t know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routines.

I remember hearing a statement about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back on their calories. They didn’t live to reap the benefits of indulging in those few extra calories.

Have you ever passed up the opportunity to go to lunch with a friend because you had laundry to do or marketing planned? Because we tend to cram so much into our lives, we tend to miss opportunities. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make ourselves when all the conditions are perfect. We’ll invite friends for dinner when we’re off our diet or we’ll have a party after we get the windows washed or the carpet cleaned. We’ll go on a vacation when the children are older and potty trained, etc. Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask “how are you?” Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running though your head stressing you out? Ever lost touch and let a good friendship die because you didn’t have time to cultivate it and help it grow?

Life has a strange way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter and the list of promises gets longer. One morning we will awaken and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of “I’m going to,” “I plan on” and “someday when things are.”We have all heard about six degrees of separation, so stop a minute and reflect on these facts. There are at least two people in this world who you would die for. There are at least 15 people in this world who love you in some way. Every night someone thinks about you before going to sleep. You mean the world to at least someone. Someone you don’t even know exists admires you or loves you.

Think of yourself as special and unique and stop waiting until it is too late to fulfill those promises you have made to yourself. Become a “seize the moment” person and be more open to spontaneous opportunities. Keep your mind open for new ideas and experiences. What are you waiting for? Time is passing! You never know what you will find if only you will look. Every day is precious and needs to be lived to the fullest. Planning is important, but so are unplanned occasions.

For example, I love ice cream. It’s just that I might as well apply it directly to my waist line with a spatula and eliminate the digestive system. The other day, I passed the Baskin and Robbins, stopped the car and went in and bought a doubledecker cone of my favorite flavor, pralines and cream. Yumm! I didn’t feel guilty and I knew if my car hit an iceberg on the way home, I would die happy without regrets.

Occasionally do something you want to do…not something you should do just because you want to do it. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? Now, why are you waiting? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift. Slow down and hear the music before the song is over. Remember, life is like tequila and salt, an unusual combination of experiences that are complementary but definitely not to be missed in any way!