begin...begin again: "just do it"

Thought for the Day:

...to which I would add, you should go do them:

before it's too late
while you still have the passion for it
even though you might not succeed
despite what others may think
in order to feed your spirit

Notice I did not mention that you should wait:

until you have the time or money for it
until the kids are grown, or worse (like me), until you retire
for your friends' or family's approval
until this silliness passes

I've been lucky enough to check a few things off my list over the past couple of years. I wanted to devote my time and energy to writing, and I have. I joined a critique group. I traveled to Africa twice on medical missions.

I started to journal. I took up yoga and meditation. But that still leaves two other lists:

Things I wish I had done earlier in life:

~taken voice lessons

~studied photography

~gotten around on a motorcycle
~learned to play the banjo

~etc.

2. Things I'd still like to get around to:

~art lessons, in particular bas relief oil painting

by Justina Kopana

~photography lessons

~go vegetarian

~get back on my skiis

~see Tibet

~etc.

I mean, a person can dream, right?

What brought all this on is a long-running debate I've been having with myself. That is: whether or not to join our church's choir. I'm not a great singer but I can read music and carry a tune, and I'm an alto so it's not likely I'd ever be asked to sing solo. It's just that sacred choral music is so beautiful. And our choir is so'o'o good. I might like to become a part of it...but then there's all that other stuff I want to do, too.

How do you decide when it's time to take a chance and start something new? How do you decide what it will be? I know I need a lot of encouragement: