What if you just had one more day.
What would you do differently?
How much time have you already spent worrying instead of doing something that you love?
These are the words from an Instagram video I posted 6 months ago.
It’s received more likes than any one of my others posts.
How Much Time Do You Have Left To Live?
My guess is that the words and the message in the video resonated with people.
The whole idea of not knowing how much time we have left to live is both scary and intriguing at the same time.
How much we have yet to do and want to do.
How much worrying we’ve already done about things that don’t matter and are out of our control.
We’ve all done it (I know I have) and perhaps are still doing it…. worrying about what we can’t control, the things that doesn’t really matter to us.
Worrying about what others think and say about us.
About the decisions we make and how we choose to live.
About whether we’re good enough or worthy enough to have and live the life we want.
Do the things that make us happy.
That inspire us, make us come alive, see the world from an entirely different lens.
Inspiring others around us along the way and making the world a better place in the process.
And whether you realize it or care to realize it, you’re creating your legacy – the reason for why you’re here.
Time Is Ticking
The trap we all seem to fall into though is the idea that we have so much time left to do all it is we want to do, see, create, and experience.
We don’t give enough thought to how much time we have left until it’s too late.
Until our time is up or someone we care about and love is gone – cutting short the time we felt we had so much of to enjoy with them.
The Problem Is We Think We’ll Live Forever
As much as I don’t like talking about death and dying, it would be silly to ignore or avoid the fact that we’re here for a short time.
No one lives forever.
Then again the goal isn’t to live forever, it’s to create something that will.
We don’t need tons of money, time, or fame to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Whether we know or admit to it or not, we all want to feel like we made a difference, like we contributed in some way, that our life mattered.
The good news is we all do have the ability to make a difference – today!
It doesn’t require fame, having more money, or more time.
All it requires is to act today – to do today what we so often put off until tomorrow.
- Go for that run today
- Get in that workout today
- Send that letter out today
- Call that person you’ve been meaning to call today
- Start that business you’ve been wanting to start today
- Start writing that book you’ve been wanting to write today
- Read that book you’ve been meaning to read today
- Share your love and gratitude with loved ones you’ve been meaning to share
- Hold the door for a stranger
- Smile because you can
- Say thank you to everyone
Do the things that’ll enrich your life because when you do, you enrich the lives of others.
When we better ourselves, we better the world around us.
There Are Only So Many Tomorrows
Thomas Jefferson once said, “never put off till tomorrow what you can do today“.
There’s no guarantee we’re going to show up tomorrow.
There’s people who were here yesterday that aren’t here today.
I lost my dad to cancer when he was just 57 years old.
He had so many dreams, ideas, and aspirations for all he would do and see with my mom once he retired.
That was his tomorrow… when he retired.
He never got to see tomorrow.
We’re often so wrapped up and busy in our careers, finances, debt, keeping up with the Joneses and worried about what other people might think or say about us that we fail to realize the most important thing of all….
When All Is Said & Done, What Matters?
When my time comes to sail away…
I won’t:
Think back to those extra hours of work I put in.
Close my eyes and think about the bills I paid.
Smile about all the expensive things I was able to afford.
I will:
Think back to the extra hours I spent with family and friends.
Close my eyes and think about the smiles I got to witness by serving other.
Smile about all the things that didn’t cost me a cent to do and brought me the most happiness… sunsets, beach volleyball, conversations with friends, volunteering, and telling people they’re awesome.
Regret Sucks
No one wants to regret not having done what they wish they would have done…. especially when there isn’t a do over.
This article in The Huffington Post written a few years ago as a result of a book called “The Top Five Regrets of The Dying” shows us exactly what regret looks like at the end of our lives.
Here’s a question that I would like for you to think about and answer… whether it’s in the comments below or in the privacy of your own journey:
How much time do you think you have left to live and how do you want to live your life until then?
I know it’s a freaky question to ask, a bit morbid, but it’s a powerful question that I hope helps to wake us up to the fact that…
We’re Here For A Short Time
I love life and really do wish I could physically live forever, but I know that isn’t possible.
I’d like to think that I will live to be old and gray well into my 80’s and 90’s.
I also think about the fact that I lost my dad to cancer at the age of 57 years old so I think about that often as well.
If I was to live the same length of time as my dad, I would have 18 years left to live.
Sounds like a long time right?
Quite frankly, it scares the shit out of me.
I moved to San Diego 18 years ago… it feels just like it was yesterday.
There’s still so much I want to do, see, create, and experience.
While it scares me to think about how much time I have left, I know it’s something I can’t control.
What I can control is how I decide to live my life while I’m here, for whatever length of time that is.
I will continue to live a life that makes me happy, that’s fulfilling – a life of gratitude and service, doing all I can to make the world a better place because I was here.
Whether I leave this world tomorrow or in 50 years, I want to leave it with no regrets.
Let’s not wait until it’s too late to do and be what we might have been.
Let’s Do More Than Just Exist – Let’s Start Living
I encourage you to start living (and not just existing) right now, today.
There’s a difference.
Live as if you want to be here.
Exist as if you have to be here.
Live and be grateful for all you have.
Exist and be bitter for all you don’t have.
Live as if everything is a miracle.
Exist as if nothing is a miracle.
Live As If Your Life Depends On it, Because It Does
How much time do you have left?
How will you live while you’re here?
What will you regret not doing when your time is up?
I challenge you think about these three questions, listen to gut instinct, it always knows best, and write down all it is that comes to you… whether in the comments below or in your own personal journal.
Don’t hold back either – write it all. Nothing’s to big, to crazy, to impossible.
We may not be here tomorrow, but we’re here today.
Let’s make it a party and enjoy every damn second of it.
Cheers!
Mike
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