Recently, I spent a week with my family in Costa Rica. There is much to see and do in that beautiful country. And both my kids (11 and 15) thoroughly enjoyed it.
One afternoon, we went on a boat ride to watch dolphins, witness the sunset, and enjoy dinner out on the ocean.
As part of the tour, at one scenic stop, the boat anchored and the captain invited everyone to disembark for snorkeling and/or swimming. Like I said… there is a lot to do in Costa Rica.
In addition to snorkeling, the captain invited people to jump off the top deck of the catamaran into the ocean if they wanted. As you might imagine, the teenage boys and young adults were the first to attempt the high dive into the water below. Some needed a little peer pressure, but most of the young men were more than happy to jump (and impress the girl they brought with them).
While anchored, I looked around at the other participants on the tour and began noticing for the first time the wide range of ages represented. There were many elderly people wearing regular clothes, enjoying the scenery, but with clearly no intention of getting off to swim or snorkel, much less jump 25 feet off the top of the boat.
There were also a number of young children onboard. Each of them got off the boat for snorkeling and swimming, but not a single one of them dared to make the jump.
While I was looking around at the different ages and life stages represented, my wife asked if I thought I was going to jump with the others.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m going to jump… while I still can.”
I’m 43, healthy, and in fairly good shape. I can run, snorkel, and swim. There will probably come a day when I am unable to do any of those. But that’s not today. Today, I can jump. So I will.
Besides, my son is 15. And he had every intention of jumping off that boat. I wanted to be there and jump alongside him—because I still can. And that might not always be the case.
There are moments in life that are difficult to communicate adequately with words. The circumstances are just right… the emotions are in perfect alignment… and all the thoughts running through the back of your mind are impossible to describe to another person. And sometimes in those moments, when everything is just right, a thought overwhelms you.
For me, the sight of young adults jumping off a boat into the ocean while those younger and those older watched from the sideline brought new resolve into my life.
I want to jump while I can. Because there will come a day when I cannot. And I don’t want to regret missing my opportunity to do it while I could.
On that warm evening in Costa Rica, that meant jumping into the ocean and treading water waiting for my son to follow my lead.
But I found the principle of “jump while you can” extends far beyond that one moment.
You see, not long after that boat ride, I was talking to a friend at a restaurant about raising daughters. His daughters are a bit older than mine, so I like to seek his wisdom and input from time to time.
He happened to make a comment to me about how fast time passes. “They grow up really fast Joshua, and you don’t always realize it’s happening. I’ll never forget the time I reached down to grab my daughter’s hand while on a walk and she pulled it back for the first time, and said, ‘I think I’m old enough to walk alone dad.’ Without even realizing it, my little girl had become a young woman.”
That evening, while on a walk with my daughter, I made a special point to hold her hand and enjoy the moment. “Jump while you can Joshua,” I thought to myself. Because there is probably coming a day very soon when I won’t be able to.
I have even begun to apply this mantra to the work that I do. As many of you know, last summer I launched a digital magazine with a few friends. Simplify Magazine has been incredibly well-received with over 65,000 subscribers in less than 10 months. We knew there was a need for well-curated material in a magazine-format that helped families focus on the things that matter most—but we had no idea this many people would sign-up in the first year.
Recently, my friend Brian and I began discussing the idea of starting a second magazine. This one though, would be focused almost entirely on the topic of money. Money is such an important topic and many people are looking for genuine help in how to handle theirs more effectively and intentionally. Out of the conversation, the idea for Simple Money Magazine was born.
Incidentally, it was this mantra of “Jump while you can,” that kept running through my mind during the decision-making process.
I’m healthy, with energy, and still enjoy working hard. I am at a good place in life to invest effort in creating something that will be genuinely helpful for people. That may not always be the case. But today it is. So I’m going to jump while I can. And I look forward to launching something new that will be helpful for many people when the first issue launches this Fall.
I don’t know what opportunity, opening, or challenge lies before you right now. Maybe it is a physical opportunity, a business opening, a relational challenge, or something else altogether.
But let me encourage you, jump while you can.
Life changes quickly. And there may come a day soon when you are not able to jump. So make the most of your opportunities today.
About Joshua Becker
Your “jump while you can” is my “travel while you can”. I worked internationally in the oil industry for 20 years. Along the way, I picked up. Dengue Fever, Malaria and Trichinosis. The three were back to back so it slowed me down to a crawl, literally, for almost 3 years. One day, the doctor declared me healed and then said “God’s not done with you yet, go LIVE your life”. At that time, I had lived and worked in probably 40+ countries; today, I’ve traveled to 129 and still planning more….why, to Travel while I can!!
So live your passion and embrace the opportunities while you can!!
This story parallels a moment in my life exactly! We were on a catamaran in Maui and the same epiphany came to me when we anchored and the captain said we could start diving off the front My son was doing front flips into the ocean and i realised i need to start jumping as well as this was an opportunity to share a very special moment with him. To me life is about creating moments and memories so you have to not only be aware of those times in your life but willing to act on them! To this day we still talk about it. What a special memory, one i will keep always. Thank you for sharing
Where are the life jackets?
My husband and I were in Tahoe( North side) and decided to go river rafting down the Truckee River. (We are both in our 70’s! ) We did this when we were much younger and have wanted to go again. It is mostly a lazy river and quite relaxing…..until it isn’t! 😊 Well, long story short, it helped us realize ( as we were caught on a rock for the 2nd time) that we are not as young as we feel or think! Still glad we went but will leave it to the young ones nest time!
Great concept. Great article. Much to ponder here. I have to say from the perspective of retirement that this concept becomes even more important with each passing year. I hadn’t been on a bike for decades, but the opportunity appeared to get a trike and ride while I can. The knees sometimes object but I am thoroughly enjoying every mile that I can manage. Hubby is fixing up one more old house – while he can!
My son is under 10 and I regularly ask him if he will still let me hold his hand when he is 12 and older. I also tell him that when I am old he will need to hold my hand.
Yes do what you can when you can, but do the things you really enjoy doing, not just because its on a bucket list and sounds great.
Hi, first time I post a comment here, but I’ve been following you for a long time now. I really love your views on simplicity and way of life.
This article touched me particularly, since I’m 42 (almost same as you…), but I’m handicaped, unfortunately touched by the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. No way to know if my handicap will become smaller or bigger in the future, this is really random with this syndrome.
I really liked the mantra : “Jump while you can”. I did “jump” a lot before my disability became too important, and it allowed me to live without regrets. Today, I literally cannot jump or run anymore, but I like the idea of doing the most that you can, while you still can, with the important people. Maybe I won’t be able to jump in the water with my kids next time, but I still can gently go into the water and play with them…
Thanks again for this article, it inspired me a lot :)
There is no time like now to begin divesting your life of “stuff”! Live simply that others may simply live.😄
“Jump while you can”. What a profound statement. I had that chance yesterday. My newly 5 years old granddaughter’s party was at a trampoline park. I did not jump, while most of the other adults did. I have a bad knee and was worried I could injure it again. As it happened, there was an adult stranger who did injure his knee and the paramedics were called in. That reinforced my good decision not to jump! However when reading your post I realized there are so many times I “don’t jump” when I really could. So now I will be really rethinking all those time. Thanks for your column it has some interesting points to ponder.
Yes! This was a great story and reminder to be present in the moment and focus on connection (and the important things) with those we love and those around us. Thank you.
It sounds great. Hope you enjoyed a lot.
Diagnosed with Sjogren 25 years ago, had to learn quickly to appreciate simple things in life, lucky me, have two fabulous daughters and two lovely grand sons, so still going concerts with my daughters, having fun with grand kids and travelling as soon as I can and enjoying being me !!!!
Even though I didn’t kniw, I really needed to hear this. Thank you Joshua.
Easter blessings to your family from the World’s End! (Argentina)
Joshua, look forward to the upcoming Simply Money Magazine. I’m interested in personal finance and read as much as possible on the topic. I look forward to your take on the “behavioral” side of finance such as delaying gratification and happiness. Should beta readers be needed let me know.