Everybody dies. But not everybody will have lived.
- Various Sources
Related to Showing Up is taking initiative. Not waiting for someone to ask you to do something.
General Mattis, in his book Call Sign Chaos, says that he relies on two characteristics for his Marines to succeed - initiative and aggressivness to achieve intent. All the training and equipment in the world is useless if you don't give it to someone who understands that they need to make the first move.
Next time you're in a room with a bunch of people (another meeting, some civic discussion, whatever), notice how most people don't say much. Most of them will look at each other or down at the floor. That's because they're waiting for someone to say "go".
When you show initiative, you're the person that says "go". You're the person that makes things happen.
Most of us fall victim to easy entertainment. To surfing social media, reading one more article, watching one more show. That's because it's easy. You know what's hard (but always worth doing)?
Taking action.
- Trying that new hobby.
- Starting a new book (yes, specifically a book).
- Learning a new song,
- trying a new cooking recipe,
- going to ask for volunteer opportunities down at the civic center,
- calling your family,
- showing some damn initiative.