Deadlines

Lately, I’ve been contemplating the significance of the deadlines we set in our lives. Throughout my adult working years, I’ve become adept at meeting deadlines, whether they were monthly, weekly, daily, or even minute by minute. I’ve developed an innate sense of timing that has served me well in my professional life. I can accurately gauge five minutes within a second or two, and I can effortlessly estimate the time without looking at my watch. For instance, during a recent meeting, I confidently predicted it would last until 3 pm (30 minutes) and remarkably concluded right on time without glancing at the clock.

However, this skill is in stark contrast to my earlier days in university when meeting deadlines was a challenge. In my first year, I consistently delivered assignments and essays on time. But once I discovered the possibility of obtaining extensions, meeting deadlines became a struggle for me.

Interestingly, in my personal life, I’ve never been one to adhere strictly to hard and fast deadlines.

Society often imposes common deadlines, like getting a mortgage, entering a relationship, and having a child by the age of thirty. I must admit that I haven’t met any of those deadlines for various reasons, and perhaps, like many in my generation, I am hesitant to fully commit.

Though, deep down, I believe I am capable of committing to specific goals.

Perhaps, setting well-defined deadlines for myself is the key. If I were to establish clear objectives for my life by age 45, such as achieving x, y, and z, I might find the determination to make them a reality. Yet, until now, that drive has been absent in me.

I wonder if maturity will bring about a change, prompting me to meet some of those deadlines. Will the ticking clock eventually push me to accomplish the things I’ve put off? Or maybe it won’t?

Recently, during a candid conversation with a colleague, we discussed how much of our identities are tied to our perception in the world. For the longest time, my sense of self was heavily intertwined with my work and its success. However, something shifted in me. I credit much of it to my overseas trip and taking a break from work, which allowed me to recognize that I am more than just my job.

It’s almost humorous to realize these valuable life lessons at a later stage. Perhaps, unconsciously, I’ve lived my life believing I could always obtain an extension, even in life’s matters. Maybe what I need now is to set firm, non-negotiable deadlines, even if I have to impose them upon myself, to break free from the idea that I can always extend things.

So, “is that all there is” to life? Maybe not. There’s still so much potential for growth and achievement, and with the right mindset, I can steer myself towards a fulfilling future.