The Last Word

By Freddie Hore | Posted: Monday February 26, 2024

I hope you’re all having a fulfilling week so far and currently on track to achieve those goals you set earlier. Be it making a head start on internals, getting ready for upcoming tournaments, or being simply that 1% better … at least I’d hope.

The time right now is about 10:30am on a Tuesday morning somewhere in the middle of February, and whether you like it or not time is passing, we’re nearly half way through the day, which will soon turn to night. Days pass, years pass, and yet what feels like an eternity flashes before our eyes until the next minute we’re dead. Time is always going to pass. But why do we so often ask ourselves where did that time go, and most importantly, worry about how we spent it.

I want to talk today about the power of now, and being in the present. However, what is the present, or the now? It’s different for everyone, but the current moment right now, just how we’re all seated in this auditorium listening to me speak, at this very second. But, the thing is, we’re not always in the present.

While we might always be physically, it’s pretty clear when mentally, we’re actually in the present. Firstly, you’re focussed, and aware of your surroundings, aka, you could tell me what I’ve just said. You’ll find yourself engaged and fully immersed in the moment, big or small, and find so much more deeper meaning in life. Life is way more interesting when in the present, and you’re guaranteed to have a much better time with friends and family or perform at your best, creating lasting memories for a lifetime.

This is why choosing how we spend our time is important. Expanding on what Gussie said last week, at the end of the day, what will be the moments you’ll cherish and regrets you’ll want to forget when laying upon your deathbed.

A classic example is in the classroom or on the sportsfield, when receiving instructions, but forgetting how to apply them. Next we lose track of the assignment, and procrastinate, causing sheer disappointment and failure later on, all because we were thinking about something else and not present.

Or, it can be never experiencing something you’ve always wanted to, but maybe you chose not to partake because of a minor tiny detail, which we call a challenge.

For many of us though, being mentally in the present can actually be quite difficult. When our daily lives become the same and we’re stuck in the same repetitive routines, we can’t help thinking about the future, or drawing conclusions from the past, hoping time will go quicker or slower. Then the minute we start doing that we forget to be in the moment, which as I’ve already said, can have huge impacts on personal success and ultimate life satisfaction.

So, how can we teach ourselves to be in the now? Being in the now is undeniably one of the absolute essential keys to unlocking a fulfilling, successful, and honourable life, so I’ll share a few ways on how we can achieve that. Firstly, get away from distractions, especially the phone, and develop positive habits - there’s a reason they call it the millionaire’s routine. Set yourself a reminder to sense everything you feel, hear and sense at a given moment of the day. Do things you’re actually interested in to stay motivated, not procrastinate and see success quicker. Give yourself challenges, and go outside the comfort zone, this will distract the mind and give you a sense of achievement and huge fulfilment in the future. Lastly, just say yes. Always take up and seek opportunities, and take as many that come your way - you never know where they may lead and how much fun you can have along the way.

Put simply, time is always going to pass, so don’t waste a second of it and get s*** done. If you can be mentally and physically in the present, you’ll achieve so much more than once thought, and live a much more fulfilling life. Use the power of the now, let it be a key weapon for success. Just try it, you might like it. Start making those goals happen, you might surprise yourself. Carpe Diem boys, seize the day.