Someday

Someday

It’s a word that puzzled me when I was in my 20s.

People wistfully saying that they’ll pursue their dreams…

…someday.

It almost felt romantic, imagining a future where they could move to some faraway place

Or learn to paint

Or whatever fill-in-the-blank thing that they tell themselves they want to do–someday.

But because I never quite grew out of asking “why”, I didn’t understand why people felt they needed to put their aspirations on perpetual hold until some undefined day in the future.

People will argue that it’s because of the reality of paying bills and handling responsibilities.

But it’s not like we can’t do both.

After I first graduated, I moved out, got a job…but continued to pursue a career as a sculptor.

I moved on from sculpting, not because of the pressures of bills and responsibilities, but because it simply wasn’t profitable.

And others in history with renowned accomplishments have also pursued their dreams in tandem with real jobs.

Albert Einstein, patent office clerk.

T.S. Elliot, who worked at Lloyds Bank.

Or Philip Glass, who was a plumber and taxi driver.

Of course, not everyone gains the success they dream of.

But someday feels like an excuse to not even try.

So to someday, I say today.

Because I would rather try and fail than not try at all.