My Now Is Two Years Later

I first talked about making my Now page back in 2024 with leafwind, Kalan, and Ya Xuan. In the end, I only actually made it two years later.

Why Now

In Four Thousand Weeks, the book says that if you do not do the things you want to do "now," you usually never will, because we can always find other things to fill the "now" and pile what we want to do onto a to-do list. The book quotes writer Jessica Abel: "You will never magically get all your work done at some future point, leaving you with plenty of free time."

Because of this idea, I occasionally put down my smelly, overlong to-do list and run off to do what I want to do in the moment. I do not successfully break away every time, but this was one of the times I did.

So how does that "occasionally" happen?

I really agree with the idea of "an opportunity" mentioned in Why Switch Writing Platforms Again:

Just like we all know that regular routines are better, exercise is better, and eating lighter is better, but to go from "Yeah, I know it is better, but..." to "Right? Why am I not doing it?" requires that opportunity.

This time, the opportunity was seeing Wei Lee make one too. That was when I decided: Now it is.

Other things, like entering the software industry, starting to learn Japanese, building a personal website, starting a newsletter, going to Australia, and coming to Japan, were all built up by one opportunity after another.

Changing the World

This reminds me of something from the past. Before graduating from university, I talked with my thesis advisor about my fear of leaving sociology. Studying sociology had filled me with critical thoughts about the world, and with all the hot-blooded immaturity of youth, I wanted to correct everything, which sounds a bit like becoming a villain. I told him, "I want to change the world." He did not laugh after hearing that, and precisely because of that, I dared to say it to him.

He only asked me one question first: "Which world do you want to change?"

I was immediately stumped. Then he said, "You do not have to start by thinking about something as huge as changing the world. If there is something you want to change, first think about influencing the people around you. Then the people around you can go on to influence others. That can create more change."

Those words influenced me deeply, and they are also one of the reasons I write now.

I share this little story simply because writing my Now page this time also feels like the result of people influencing one another and connecting with one another.

The International NOW Connection

Derek Sivers has been promoting this movement around the world through nownownow.com. Many people were inspired by him. You can go there to see what people around the world are doing now, and if you do not know how to begin, you can also see how others do it. Taiwan is in there too!

Finally, I want to share Wiwi's piece, NowNowNow World Champion. After joining the BlogBlog gathering, I realized so many people are making personal websites, so I am calling on everyone to make a Now page too.

If you want to make one as well, do not put it off as long as I did. If you keep delaying, you will never do it. Do it Now!