Humans are very good at reacting. It is a long-standing, hardwired behavior that has allowed us to survive for so long and has perpetuated our species through the toughest of times. Our homes have gotten destroyed by wind, water, and fire… and we rebuild them. Our tribes and people have been attacked by outsiders… and we fight back and go to war. We get hungry… we find food. We get cold, we get indoors or bundle up. We get sick… we lay low, stay in bed, and do what we have to in order to regain our health.
In all times of crisis, when we, or the things we depend on, are threatened, we often get to them late. The reason is, it takes a certain amount of harm or damage before we are aware there is a problem. The earliest signals of threatening circumstances are usually missed or overlooked. After all, if we reacted strongly to every potential or perceived threat, we’d be overwhelmed and inundated to the point we could not live.
Even though getting to things late often requires energy, time, and money, there comes a point when there is no hope, a time when things are too far gone. Late can be manageable, but too late leaves us no chance. Too late means that there simply is no chance of recovery.
In our office, a patient’s first day visit includes a consultation, an examination, an x-ray (if needed), then a report of the findings. In the report of findings, we go over the exam findings, show the patient the x-rays, point out what the problems are, where they are, and what they need to do to get better. It is usually when I am pointing at the x-rays, showing them areas where there is arthritis, degenerating joints and/or degenerated discs, that the patient slumps with disappointment, wells up with fear, and says… “So, I waited too long? It’s too late?” My answer is usually the same… “It’s late, but not too late.”
It takes years for degenerative changes to show up on an x-ray, so by the time we see that, the problem absolutely has been building for years. So, yes… if you have those findings on x-ray, it is late. But… you can have arthritis and degenerative discs and have no pain, be fully functional, and lead an active and full life. So, while it is late, it is not too late.
Left uncorrected long enough, though, there could be permanent nerve damage, the bones could begin to fuse, and the problems could become unmanageable. So, there is a point where problems go from late to too late, thus causing a permanent, uncorrectable, and life-altering condition.
Another mistake we humans make is that we often think it is too late, but it isn’t. It may be late, but there still may be hope, but we give up, assuming it is too late. No matter how far gone something may seem, it always warrants at least some attention and effort on our part to ensure that we’ve exhausted everything. If you quit, there is absolutely no chance of succeeding. Assuming that it is too late eliminates all chances of success.
Waiting until a crisis or problem gets worse is definitely more problematic than if we prevent a problem in the first place, but as bad as late is, late is better than too late.
And remember… the key to true success is to be proactive. Late is better than too late, but preventing a crisis is by far the best strategy. Anticipating future issues, taking regular action, and not waiting for the bottom to drop out is far better in terms of having an optimal life. So, strive to be proactive and to prevent issues from even showing up. But if you have waited too long and find yourself dealing with issues, even if it’s late, you can usually remedy the situation. Just don’t confuse late with too late!
