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The Rotunda
Wednesday, July 23, 2025

You Are Not Tomorrow

What day is tomorrow? Oh, I remember, the day you were planning on finishing that assignment. You know which one; the one you least want to do. Is it difficult? Doesn't really matter, does it?

That assignment is there. It exists. You wrote it on your planner and put it in the back of your mind just as each word became cemented on your paper and soon your schedule that seems to appear oh so open and free.

Sometimes you just want to throw away that planner, forget about assignments and essays and lab reports and jobs and on and on and just fly away. Fly away and never come back to the reality of responsibilities.

And then there's the fact that the deadline is coming closer and closer – quicker than you'd like it to. And you know that even if you started right now – right now – you'd have it done in no time. And better. And you'd feel great knowing that it, whatever it is, is finally over. Finished.

But the thought of what comes next is just as bad. And we all know you're not going to finish that assignment until the only thing you can focus on isn't the assignment, but the seconds hand on your watch ticking by faster than you remember it ever did in the entire scheme of space and time.

Maybe you should take a break. Yeah, that sounds good. Let's take a break. Stressing out about what isn't even here shouldn't be done. And you don't deserve that. Let's get a bagel. I like bagels. That will make you feel better. Taste it? That's the taste of deliciousness. Delicious procrastination.

All we need now is an excuse. We have food. We have self-appreciation – or whatever you'd call relaxing for the greater good of feeling better in the Now. All we need is an excuse. Jersey Shore is about to come on. That's just what you need to slow down your thoughts quicker than an elephant tranquilizer. "Every time I'm excited, I have to poop." Oh, Snooki. You make my day all better.

Okay, now the day is over. Regret. Whatever. Sleep for a long time because you deserve it. Relax because you deserve it.

And when you reserve that lower than what your talents deserve grade … well, you deserve it.

Let's back up a moment, though. Procrastination. From prcrastinationem. "A putting off." Procrastinare. "Put off till tomorrow. Pro. "Forward." Crastinus. "Belonging to tomorrow." Why is it always tomorrow?

Do you remember yesterday? Do you remember what you said yesterday? You said you'd do it tomorrow. Well, I'm no genius at telling time or anything, but I'm pretty sure that yesterday's "tomorrow" is today.

Uh, oh. Looks like you promised yourself an extension that ran out too fast. But guess what is just as fast. That deadline. Is it tomorrow already? The deadline, that is. I'm pretty sure you can't hold off that thing you gotta do until tomorrow – if it's due tomorrow.

Not that I'm any genius at telling time or anything. But okay. You can do this. Let's just sit down. Pick up wherever you threw your planner when you flew away like an eagle to the sea of forward-tomorrow.

Whatever it is. Do it now.

Your tomorrow's today.

You have run out of excuses.

You are in the driver's seat.

You are in control.

You can't tell yourself what you can't do.

Because obviously you can't trust yourself.

If you can't even pick up a pencil and jot down one single word to that assignment.

To that thing you know you can do, but won't because why not.

In the end, it's you versus you.

And you are your biggest enemy.

Stop messing around.

Stop treating yourself like you can't do it.

Like you don't deserve it.

Like you're not able.

Like you can't.

Won't.

But you will now. Can. Are.

So, why not today?

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