The great
choreographer George Balanchine, teaching his company class, would often say, “Do
it NOW.” Execute the step now, improve now, don’t stand around waiting to get
better: do it now. This method produced dancers reflexively fast, responding in
decisive movement. The kiss of the moment is embodied in the words “do it now”.
Decisiveness implies
frugality of action. How many things that are mutually exclusive do you try to
do at one time? Decide on only one. Reduce choice, until you arrive at the
truly necessary. Then abandon regret. Martha had decided feeding her honoured
guests was most important; for Mary it was listening to Christ, who commended
her. Was Martha’s choice wrong? No, but she cannot then complain about it. Christ
was also her guest. She puts the dinner on the table: do it now.
We regret many
things that however are passed. You’re not going to get over it. You won’t move
on. You can’t leave it behind you. Mistakes are a companion of every life. Go
to the cemetery; bring an armload of silk flowers to the dead. See how the
choices you make today will mark your memory. Decide. Do it now.
