This past week was another powerful reminder of the transience of opportunity, and the dangers of procrastination.
Several years ago I heard about a course that David Wolverton, a.k.a. David Farland, was teaching at BYU. Basically a full semester of instruction on how to write marketable books and make a career out of writing fiction, taught by a master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy genre. It sounded interesting, and I told myself that some day I might want to take that course.
Then I forgot about it. When it came to my attention again in 2021, I had missed the sign-up deadline by a few days. So I made a note to check back for the next sign-up. And it worked beautifully. I must have been one of the first people to sign up. The class started just two weeks ago.
And just last week, David Wolverton passed away.
The shock of losing such a gifted teacher, a man with so much knowledge and insight, and willingness to share both, cut deep. Still cuts deep.
And I can’t help but wonder what might have been.
Why didn’t I sign up for the course when I first became aware of it? Why did I wait? WTF did I wait for?
And now there’s sadness. A measure of disbelief. And hard, bitter regret. An opportunity irretrievably lost. A door closing in my face with the resounding clang of finality.
And in this sound lies my lesson – to seize every opportunity that presents itself, no matter whether it’s the perfect time or not. It might well be the only time.