6.20 Takeoff: When the Clock Starts Ticking on Your Dreams

I stood at Heathrow Terminal 3 last Tuesday, clutching my boarding pass like it was a sacred text. The screen flashed: Departure Delayed – 6:20 PM. And in that moment, I wasn’t thinking about flight numbers or turbulence—I was thinking about how many people miss their own takeoffs every day.

Yes, I’m talking about life. Not literal flights (though if you’re late for one, please don’t blame me), but the emotional and existential departures we keep postponing.

The Real Departure Time

It’s not 6:20 PM. It’s not even when the gate closes.

It’s when you finally decide to stop waiting for permission—to start your project, call that friend after years, speak up in a meeting, or move to Lisbon because your soul says go.

I used to think I was too busy to dream big. But then I watched a kid from Rio’s favela train barefoot under streetlights—his ball worn thin from ten thousand kicks—and realized: he didn’t need an airport terminal. He had rhythm. He had fire.

And here I am in London with air-conditioned offices and overpriced coffee… still waiting for ‘the right moment’.

Time Isn’t the Enemy — Procrastination Is

The world runs on deadlines—flights, exams, payrolls—but our deepest fears? They’re not tied to clocks.

They’re tied to shame: What if I fail? What if they laugh? What if I’m not enough?

That voice—the one whispering ‘just wait until next week’—is the real gate agent blocking your way.

I once interviewed a former footballer who’d retired at 28 because he said he ‘didn’t feel ready’. Now he coaches kids in São Paulo using his old boots as teaching tools.

His message? You don’t have to be perfect to begin.

The Ripple Effect of Showing Up Early (Even If You’re Late)

Here’s my secret: show up late—but with fire in your eyes anyway. When you walk into that room five minutes after everyone else… but full of purpose… something shifts. People notice—not because you’re punctual—but because you carry energy they can’t ignore.

In football terms? That’s called tempo control. In life? It’s presence. So yes—pay attention to flight times (and let me help you track them via my weekly countdowns). But more importantly: pay attention to your inner clock—the one ticking louder than any airport speaker system.

Your Life Has No Gate Closed Sign (Yet)

We live in an era where everything feels urgent but nothing feels final. We scroll through lives curated by influencers while our own dreams gather dust in notebooks labeled ‘someday’. But here’s what no airline announcement ever says: The plane is always ready—with space for one more passenger… even if they arrive late—in sweatpants and with unshaved legs and zero baggage allowance… as long as they bring courage instead of excuses.

So mark this down: The real departure time isn’t on any board screen—it’s inside you. Right now. Today. At this very second. The wings are already up, The engines are warm, The world needs your story before it even knows it exists… in fact—you might be its only reason for taking off today.