Imagine yourself flying an airplane. It is not a small airplane with a single propeller. It is a jet fighter aircraft capable of cracking the sound barrier at 600 mph. The plane is worth $40 million. You can't afford any "fender benders". No day dreaming while flying this "puppy".
The training for jet pilots is to always keep you mind at least 5 minutes "in front of the aircraft". This means you have to anticipate the airways up ahead so that when you reach your future points in time there are no surprises. You know! Avoid mountains. Anticipate busy air space filled with other airplanes. Slow down to approach a landing. You get the idea.
Life is similar. You are not flying an airplane but you are in charge of your life. Successful people plan their life's weeks, months and even years ahead of today. That means you go to school to learn skills that you can use 4-5 years from now and perhaps the rest of your life. You start saving money now so that 10 years from now your life is improved. You invest money into your 401k on a regular basis so that there is retirement money in the future. If you don't plan ahead and anticipate, your aircraft (your life) is headed for disaster (or at least exciting times). Occasionally you can do a few barrel rolls and upside down loops for fun.
So you need to climb into the cockpit of your own "jet life", strap yourself in and file your flight plan because your life is going "faster than a speeding bullet".
My Dad died 51 years ago (it seems like yesterday). I've been married 48 wonderful years (I'm not stupid). My Grandmother Myrna who was like "Yoda" to me died 24 years ago. Grasshopper No.5, the last of the offspring will be 31 this year. In retrospect, my life has been like a speeding bullet. Some of it I planned by staying "ahead of the airplane". Some of it is the result of crash and burn tactics. My plane is somehow still flying. Maybe it is because I had a two seat airplane and a capable co-pilot.
The lesson Grasshopper is to take control of your life and dictate your own destiny. You've got to stay ahead of your airplane.
Love,
Dad