So, what do you need to quit doing?

I was browsing at the bookstore today and quickly saw that there were so many new books on shelf. Reminded me of how long I have not been in any store. I walked passed the fiction section and saw new books from authors that I knew I would have enjoyed - Michael Crichton, John Grisham, Nelson Demille (I think I would have been in college when I last read books from any of them). I then saw biographies of people (politicians, religions leaders, football managers, businessmen) of whom I knew I would like to read about. The same thoughts came to me as I walked pass the marketing and leadership sections, enterpreneurship, economics, finance and investment, parenting and other self-help books. Then books on travel and history which I thought, I know one day I will read them (I imagine lying down by the beach somewhere). I want to read all of them. Like a woman who thought to herself, I need all these handbags or shoes ... I thought, I need to read all these books.

But the truth is - I will never be able to read all those books. Even though I vowed to myself at the age of 12 that I will read ALL of Archie's collection. And I'm ok with that. You see, our life is short (maybe this post was inspired by the memorial service I attended and conducted yesterday). Reading book A comes with the expense of forgoing reading book B (or doing something else). As much as reading book A is a good thing, I have to decide if that's worthwhile in light of my life. I will never be able to read all those books AND travel every exotic place AND eat everything AND catch all the movies and DVD that's been released AND read every updates on Facebook everyday AND not miss a single Tweets in 100 of our following AND catch every single football (or tennis) matches AND attend every social functions AND seminars etc. As much as I want to. But I simply don't have the time on earth. And you don't either. Doing one thing is always at the expense of another.

I am reminded of an author saying that the conventional quote "winners don't quit" is not true. The truth is winners quit all the time. They just quit the things that will draw them further away from their goal or purpose. And stay the course (and don't quit) on their purpose. And if we look closely enough, there's a lot of things that we need to quit doing because it's taking up the time that could be used to bring us closer to our life goals. The earlier we realise this, the higher the chance of us achieving it.

So, what do you need to quit doing?