What Deadline Syndrome Taught Me

— A Life That Does Not Miss Its Moment —


In journalism, there is a term known as “Deadline Syndrome.”

It is an insider’s expression for the chronic habit of journalists who procrastinate until the deadline is almost upon them, only to unleash a sudden burst of writing at the very last minute.


I once had a senior colleague who suffered from a particularly severe case of this “syndrome.” He wrote a monthly column, yet without fail, he would submit it only when the deadline was nearly upon us.

Naturally, this left everyone else in a state of anxious suspense—the editor who had to read the column and come up with a headline, the production staff who had to lay out the page before sending it to the printing plant. Tempers would sometimes flare. Whenever the deadline for his column approached, the entire newsroom would grow tense and stressed.

But “Deadline Syndrome” is not something that afflicts journalists alone.

It appears in many forms throughout our lives.

We put off what needs to be done, only to find ourselves scrambling at the last moment—and sometimes paying dearly for it. And the consequences often affect not only us, but also the people around us.


Life itself is no different.

There is a season for a farmer to sow seeds in the spring, and a time for a student to study. There is a time to have a medical checkup, and a time to pay the electric bill. And there is also a time to say to someone we love, “I love you.”

If we miss the right moment, we may lose a harvest. We may lose our health. And sometimes, we may even lose someone precious to us.


There are things in life that should not be left to “someday.” There are things that must be done now.

Those who prepare a little today create breathing room for tomorrow. And that breathing room ultimately becomes a gift of peace—not only for ourselves, but also for those with whom we share our lives.

      - From Dawn Light Notes by Ki Jun Kwon -


Reflection of the Day

★ Time is not a whip that drives us forward. It is a faithful companion that rewards those who do not put off today with the gift of a more peaceful tomorrow. ★

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[www.DawnLightLetter.com] 새벽 빛 편지

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