I was driving and I listened to this song by Creedence Clearwater Revival for the thousandth time, but for the first time I listened to what the lyrics were actually saying. My wife was with me and she started crying. I'm hoping that others can learn from our mistakes. I know I have and I intend to make every moment count for the rest of my life! Here are the lyrics:
First thing I remember was asking papa, why,
For there were many things I didn't know.
And daddy always smiled and took me by the hand,
Saying, someday you'll understand.
For there were many things I didn't know.
And daddy always smiled and took me by the hand,
Saying, someday you'll understand.
[Chorus]
Well, I'm here to tell you now, each and every mother's son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
'Cause someday never comes.
Well, I'm here to tell you now, each and every mother's son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
'Cause someday never comes.
Well, time and tears went by and I collected dust.
For there were many things I didn't know.
When daddy went away, he said, try to be a man,
And someday you'll understand.
For there were many things I didn't know.
When daddy went away, he said, try to be a man,
And someday you'll understand.
Well, I'm here to tell you now, each and every mother's son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
'Cause someday never comes.
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
'Cause someday never comes.
And then one day in April, I wasn't even there,
For there were many things I didn't know.
A son was born to me. Mama held his hand,
Sayin' someday you'll understand.
For there were many things I didn't know.
A son was born to me. Mama held his hand,
Sayin' someday you'll understand.
Well, I'm here to tell you now, each and every mother's son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
'Cause someday never comes
Ooo someday never comes.
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
'Cause someday never comes
Ooo someday never comes.
Think it was September, the year I went away,
For there were many things I didn't know.
And still I see him standing, tryin' to be a man,
I said, someday you'll understand.
For there were many things I didn't know.
And still I see him standing, tryin' to be a man,
I said, someday you'll understand.
Well, I'm here to tell you now, each and every mother's son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
'Cause someday never comes
Ooo someday never comes.
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
'Cause someday never comes
Ooo someday never comes.
Now let me explain why this hit us so hard. We got married in 2010 and we had a lot of plans to do really fun things. We wanted to travel the world. We wanted to skydive together, scuba dive together, go climbing, hiking, swimming, dancing, etc. We were able to do some of that. We went hiking once or twice and swimming about as much. We always said that "someday" we'd get to those things. When we have money we'll start living our lives how we want...This is what we told ourselves. Or, when our kids are grown up, then we'll start doing those types of things. Seemed like pretty logical reasoning at the time.
3 years passed and we were still basically living exactly as we were when we got married, except now we had a 2 year old and a newborn baby. We still wanted to do all those things but "someday" was still some day in the future.
Then my wife got sick. By the time we had processed the fact that it wasn't going away, it had already progressed to a point that she was UNABLE to do a lot of those things. Her joints don't let her do anything high impact so skydiving is out of the question. It doesn't even have to be high impact....dancing and hiking are out of the question too because her joints will dislocate too easily. Disautonomia (her nervous system disorder) doesn't allow her to get into water unless it's the perfect temperature. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome has also affected her digestive system so she can't even enjoy her favorite foods anymore without getting super sick!
All of a sudden, "someday" became never. We procrastinated too long. We thought we had plenty of time and that maybe in our forties or fifties, we'd be able to enjoy that type of life once money wasn't such an obstacle. There was no way of knowing that she had a genetic condition that would show it's ugly face at the age of 25.
You never know what is coming in life. You can plan and hopefully your plans go through good! Unfortunately though, life usually throws curveballs at you that you don't expect and then you have to adjust your plans.
Nobody thinks it'll happen to them. We didn't. It does happen though. The good news is that you can STILL be happy! You find new things to enjoy. You begin to enjoy the small things. You learn to appreciate things that you always took for granted. It's exhilarating! I wish it didn't take that hard of an experience to teach me that lesson though.
That is my desire. I want others to enjoy their lives to their full capacity. Don't wait for "someday" to pursue your dreams or the lifestyle you want to live! Make TODAY that day! If you wait for someday, someday will never come!
My wife and I have every excuse in the book to not pursue our dreams now. We've learned though, that we would regret settling for mediocre. This is why I'm dreaming big. This is why I'm willing to go stand in line for a week this April without a guarantee, but for a chance at running the course at American Ninja Warrior! I have no idea what will happen between now and next year. If I want to run the course and I'm physically able now, I have to seize the day and GO FOR IT! If I fail, SO WHAT! If I try and I fail, I won't regret it. If I fail to try, I will regret it.
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