Not too long ago, 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 at the time) 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, a few years back I launched a digital magazine with a few friends. Simplify Magazine has been incredibly well-received with over 250,000 subscribers. 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.
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.
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.
B Davis says
45. Love Costa Rica. Took a similar trip out of Quepos to Manual Antonio just about a year ago. I jumped and then my quite small 10 year old daughter did. Proud, proud moment I will not forget.
Sharon C says
Thank you for sharing this very timely insight, Joshua! Also, love the idea of the Simple Money Magazine.
Cindy Cimetta says
#Inspired Such a great mantra. #JumpWhileYouCan… I grew up with a Father handicapped with Polio. I never ran with my Dad let alone walk with him and hold his hand. Now,( I struggle with this…) For the last 10 years my husband of 36 years is fully disabled, he needs two transplants. Heart and Kidney. He’ll never get them as he is going to be 65. And he has a rare blood. So my reality check every day for me, is all too in my face. I must move keep busy I don’t know when to stop. To the point I have caused my self wear and tear and injury to my person, because I don’t know when to stop. And I am self employed too so this is ALL after 10 to 12 avr. hour work days. To be honest when I first read this I was like do I want to read about someones Vacay. I have not been on one for 10 years. Because of my husband. Joshua So thanks for sharing, as this really resonated with me. However I might be taking a trip alone… Just so I can jump while I can, too!
Diana says
Wow that was beautifully spoken. I was inspired by your words.
Federico says
Awesome! Opportunities sometimes are hard to grasp because they take us away from our (in)famous Comfort Zone. It is always outside of this zone that growth is possible.
Are you willing to step out of it? Do it if you dare!
Marianne says
I am so grateful I will never have to jump from a boat.
I am so grateful I will never have to go ballooning.
Or rock climbing. Or kayaking backwards alone among crocs , or some other terrible thing. Life is not a competition. I love every minute with my husband and my children. I live now and I don´t feel I have to prove anything.
Brenda says
I live now….I do believe the two of you agree! No one is “proving” anything….just living your “now” in a different way and place. Namaste.
Gloria Youchison Brown says
This article came when needed, thank you for the reminder.
karen says
Well what the hey, I was reading along … “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.”
… and suddenly my eyes filled with tears, from a clear blue sky. I have no idea why that particular paragraph affected me so deeply, but thank you, I needed that.
Janet says
Thank you so much Joshua for your heart felt story and observations. Hubby and I were sitting here just last night discussing our daughter’s upcoming wedding and marveling at how this could be possible when she was only born yesterday! While we felt we took the time to truly enjoy and appreciate every moment and milestone in her life, we wish we’d had more time. The good news is we get to travel the roads ahead with her and her beau and keep making memories and we will be using your mantra “jump while we still can”.
Gillian says
Thank you for this wonderful post. It came at a time in my life when I am jumping while I can and stepping outside of my comfort zone with a new business, as well as training for my second half-marathon. When days are hard, I will repeat this mantra.
Also, I am looking forward to your new magazine. I greatly enjoy reading the articles in your Simplify Magazine.