Choosing to Begin
Doing what you can, while you can—even if you're not sure how it’ll turn out.
"Do what you can, while you can."
– Geoff, paddler, photographer, programmer, person
Note: We’ve been asked to share a quote and a photo, so the Senior C Aurora Squad heading to the 2025 IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Brandenburg, Germany this July, can get to know each other a little better.
Summary
A simple reminder to say yes to the things that matter—not because we know how they’ll go, but because the moment might not come again.
Explanation
This line didn’t come from a book—it’s just something that slowly took shape over time. It came from real experiences that reminded me we don’t always get to choose later. We don’t know how long we’ve got. So if there’s something worth doing, it’s better to decide now.
It’s about choosing to begin. Not in a big, dramatic way—but in small, everyday ways. Taking the photo. Showing up for training. Saying yes to the trip. Getting in the boat. Writing the next program or database query. These small choices are how we make memories, how we move forward.
For us, paddling became a gift. It helped us paddle through some tough stuff—loss, grief, uncertainty. The rhythm, the focus, the people—it kept us going. And photography helped hold onto the moments that mattered, even the ones I didn’t realise were important at the time.
So “do what you can, while you can” is just my way of saying: don’t wait. The moment might not wait for you. You don’t have to be ready or sure—just willing. That’s enough to begin.
About Geoff
I’m Geoff—a paddler, photographer, programmer, and person. I wrote a blog called eljeiffel and now a Substack. Most of what I write is about memory, loss, learning, curiosity and the things that help us keep going. Like paddling, good quotes and reading books. Like being part of something. Like doing what we can, while we can.