Don’t Wait Too Long: The Truth About Missed Opportunities

One World Trade Center

I took an overnight flight from Halifax, arriving in Amsterdam early this morning. I have a few hours here before my flight to Zagreb. I’ve been reflecting on my travels lately; it’s only been three months since I returned from Spain, which feels recent, yet here I am, on the move again.

Whenever the topic of travel comes up, there’s this quiet assumption that the places we dream about will always be there, waiting for us, and that someday, when life slows down, we’ll finally make the time to see them.

But that “someday” is elusive. The window of opportunity is often shorter than we think it is. Years slip by quickly. Responsibilities shift. New obligations appear, some expected, others not. Finances weigh, family demands grow, work consumes, and health can change without warning.

It’s easy to tell ourselves we’ll go when the timing is better, once we’ve saved more, when the schedule is calmer, when nothing feels rushed. But there is no perfect time. Opportunities are often momentary. Summers fly by, winters drag on, and that trip we thought about “this year” quietly becomes a plan for “sometime”. It becomes less of a reality until the idea fades altogether.

If you’ve ever hovered over the “complete purchase” button for plane tickets but hesitated, you know how fragile that window of debate and opportunity can be. A few days of indecision can be enough to miss the moment. Prices change. Availabilities shift. What once felt possible suddenly becomes more complicated, or more expensive.

Of course, this isn’t to say you should recklessly book every trip that tempts you. We all have responsibilities, and thoughtful planning matters. But it’s worth remembering that the timing will never be perfect. At best, we can aim for “close enough”.

Looking back, we rarely regret the journeys we took, even the messy, unpredictable ones. What lingers are the trips we never started, the chances we let pass, the ones that were close to becoming a reality. And those missed opportunities don’t need to be extended adventures; sometimes it’s the weekend getaway or the short, spontaneous escape that matters.

The truth is, our hesitation often masquerades as a responsibility. We convince ourselves that we’re being practical and making the right choice, both personally and financially, but frequently, it is nervousness or uncertainty holding us back. Travel requires boldness overall, and booking the trip can feel like the most challenging part, especially when a countdown timer is ticking.

But time itself is the real countdown. Years pass quickly, responsibilities evolve, and chances slip away. The next time you have the choice to go, whether for a month or just a few days, consider saying yes. It may never feel like the perfect time, but it might just be the right time. Those can be the moments we cherish as we move forward.