Dawdling Around?

Begin right, and begin right away,” would be a good motto for young people who have contracted the unfortunate habit of dawdling. Do not wait unto tomorrow. Begin now, before the sun goes down. Work promptly done is an incentive to new endeavor. It increases skill, and gives new courage to press forward. It repays tenfold, even in the satisfaction of the present hour, the peace of mind that comes from the consciousness of completed tasks.

Procrastination is the thief of time. It steals more than time. It purloins our freedom—makes us slaves and debtors, whose tomorrows are forever mortgaged. Nor does the mischief stop here. No man is sufficient unto himself; at every point his life touches other lives. Humanity is one great family; and no one can delay or postpone his work without infringing on the rights of others.

The story is told of a boy who agreed to mow three acres of grass in as many days. Looking over the field the first morning, he decided that the work could be done in two days, and spent that day playing with other boys. The second morning his desire to begin the task was even weaker than it had been at first. He whispered to accusing conscience that the work could certainly be done in one day, and went off again to play. The third morning, however, the field appeared much larger than it had either of the preceding days, and the boy sat down a while to think before he began his work. Lulled by the hum of insects in the grass, and the cool shade of the tree under which he sat, he went to sleep. When he awoke, it was high noon. As he could not possibly mow three acres of meadow in one afternoon, he betook himself to sport again. Next day it rained heavily, and the next, and the next, until the already over-ripe grass was ruined.

Shifting the burden of the day to the morrow is not only slothful and careless, but betrays a lack of thought and foresight of which no intelligent boy or girl should be guilty. You would not be so foolish as to try to pour a quart of water into a pint measure. Is it less foolish to try to squeeze the labor of two days into one?

An accusing conscience, a palsied will, loss of energy and ambition, a sure weakening of the highest springs of character—all these are the sure fruits of the policy, or rather impolicy, of procrastination.

“Begin right, and begin right away.”—Success..