“Don’t leave anything for later. Later, the coffee gets cold. Later, you lose interest. Later, the day turns into night. Later, people grow up. Later, people grow old. Later, life goes by. Later, you regret not doing something… when you had the chance.” - Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Time is a relentless force. It moves forward, unstoppable and often unnoticed, until we find ourselves looking back, wondering where it all went. Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s words are a stark reminder of the importance of living in the present—of seizing opportunities, appreciating moments, and not putting things off for “later.” Because “later” has a funny way of slipping through our fingers.
The reality is, we often tell ourselves we’ll do something later. We convince ourselves there will be more time, a better time, a more convenient time. But as Kawaguchi so beautifully points out, life doesn’t pause for us. The coffee cools, the day turns into night, and people grow up and grow old. If we’re not careful, “later” turns into regret.
The Habit of Procrastination
Procrastination is often framed as laziness, but more often than not, it’s rooted in something deeper. Sometimes, we avoid doing things because we’re afraid—afraid of failure, afraid of change, or even afraid of success. Other times, we procrastinate because we convince ourselves there will always be more time to act, to speak, to do.
We push off that phone call to a friend, thinking we’ll catch up later. We delay starting that project, telling ourselves we’ll feel more motivated tomorrow. We put off making important decisions, waiting for the “perfect” moment. But as time passes, these things we leave for later start to slip away. The phone call never happens. The project remains unfinished. The decision is made for us by circumstance, rather than by choice.
And eventually, the regret sets in. We look back and wish we had taken action when we had the chance, but life has moved on, and those opportunities have vanished. Kawaguchi’s words serve as a reminder: Don’t leave anything for later, because later is never guaranteed.
The Coffee Gets Cold: Moments Fade
Every day is filled with small moments that seem ordinary in the moment but hold the potential for beauty and connection. Sharing a cup of coffee with a friend, taking a walk in the fresh air, or having a deep conversation with a loved one—these are moments that enrich our lives. But when we put them off for later, we risk losing them altogether.
The metaphor of coffee growing cold is a powerful one. It’s a reminder that if we wait too long to act or to appreciate a moment, its warmth, its freshness, and its meaning can fade. Life is happening now, in this moment—not in some distant “later.”
Think about all the little things you’ve put off—reaching out to an old friend, telling someone how much they mean to you, or taking that leap toward a dream you’ve been nurturing quietly. These small actions, when delayed, lose their potency. What could have been a heartfelt connection or a moment of joy becomes a missed opportunity, one that might never return.
Later, People Grow Up and Grow Old
Kawaguchi’s reminder that “people grow up” and “people grow old” is one of the most poignant parts of his message. Time changes people—children grow into adults, parents age, and relationships evolve. If we wait to express our love, gratitude, or admiration for the people in our lives, we may find that we missed the chance to do so while they were in the moment with us.
How often have you thought about calling someone, only to push it off for later? How many times have you wanted to say something meaningful but hesitated, thinking you’ll have another opportunity? The truth is, life doesn’t always give us those second chances.
We lose touch with people, relationships change, and sometimes, people pass away before we’ve had the chance to say what’s in our hearts. If we leave things for later, we may find that later never comes, and the words we never said become the words we regret the most.
The Day Turns Into Night: Time Slips Away
We’ve all experienced this—waking up with a to-do list or a goal, only to realize at the end of the day that we didn’t get to the things that really mattered. The day turned into night, and time slipped away while we were busy with distractions or less meaningful tasks.
It’s easy to let time pass like this, especially when we’re caught up in the busyness of life. But the days quickly add up, and before we know it, months or even years have gone by without us taking action on the things that truly matter.
Kawaguchi’s message is a reminder to be intentional with our time. It’s a call to prioritize the things that matter now, rather than waiting for a mythical “later” when life will be less busy or more accommodating. Because the truth is, life will always be busy, and there will always be distractions. We have to choose to make time for what matters.
Later Leads to Regret
Regret is a powerful emotion, and it often comes not from the things we did, but from the things we didn’t do. The conversations we never had, the risks we didn’t take, the relationships we let slip away—all because we thought we’d have time later.
But “later” has a way of becoming “never.” Life moves on, and opportunities pass us by. The regret that follows is often the hardest to bear, because it’s rooted in the realization that we had the chance to act, but we didn’t take it. We could have called that friend. We could have pursued that dream. We could have spent more time with the people we love. But we waited, and now it’s too late.
Seizing the Moment: How to Stop Waiting for Later
So how do we break the habit of waiting for later and start living more fully in the present? Here are a few ways to shift your mindset and start making the most of your time:
1. Do It Now: If something crosses your mind—whether it’s reaching out to someone, starting a project, or expressing gratitude—act on it right away. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, because it may never come.
2. Prioritize What Matters: Identify the things that truly matter to you, and make them a priority in your daily life. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, pursuing a passion, or taking care of your health, make time for these things now, rather than pushing them off for later.
3. Live with Intention: Instead of letting the days pass by in a blur of distractions, be intentional with your time. Set aside time each day to focus on the things that bring you joy, fulfillment, and connection.
4. Express Your Feelings: Don’t wait to tell people how much they mean to you. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or partner, take the time to express your love, gratitude, and admiration now, while they’re here to hear it.
5. Embrace Imperfection: Sometimes, we wait for later because we’re afraid of doing something imperfectly. But life is messy, and waiting for perfection often means missing out on the joy of the experience. Embrace the imperfections and take action anyway.
Final Thoughts
Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s words are a powerful reminder that life doesn’t wait for us. Time moves forward, and if we spend too much of it waiting for “later,” we may find that we missed the chance to truly live. Whether it’s pursuing a dream, connecting with loved ones, or simply enjoying the present moment, don’t leave anything for later.
The coffee will get cold. The day will turn into night. People will grow up and grow old. Life will go by, and the last thing you want is to look back and wish you had acted when you had the chance. So take that leap, make that call, say the words on your heart. Live now, before “later” becomes too late.
Time is fleeting. Don’t wait for later—because later has a way of slipping through your fingers. Live in the now, seize the moment, and take action while you have the chance.
Comments