Everybody dies.  It’s natural.  But since death is seen as a grim topic, we ignore it.  We live our lives like it’s never going to happen.  Although we recognise that time flies, our circular clocks provide the illusion that it goes round and round forever.  It doesn’t.  Our life is more like the hourglass.  It runs out.

So we get comfy in our daily routine.  We sacrifice our best years and our relationships chasing money and a career that never quite satisfies.  We obsess over appearances and body image and weight loss.  We allow our peers and society to crush our dreams.  Or we just let them fade.

I like to think about death.  About dying.  It’s important for me to recognise that before I know it, I’ll get to the end.  How will I feel when I look back on my life?  How will you feel?

According to the top 5 regrets of the dying, if you’re like most, you’ll regret living the life others expected of you.  You’ll wish you’d had the courage to live a life true to yourself.  But it’ll be too late.

Potential unexpressed turns to pain. (Robin Sharma)

The funny thing is, no one gets a pass.  Rich people die.  Parents with ‘perfect’ children die.  Slim people die.  Not even super ‘clean’ eaters or those with six pack abs get a pass.  Everybody dies.  Does everyone live?

Only at the moment of death do they recognize the fact that they have not lived.  Life has simply passed as if a dream, and death has come.  Now there is no more time to live – death is knocking on the door.  And when there was time to live, you were doing a thousand and one foolish things, wasting your time rather than living it. (Osho)

Recognising our own mortality helps us focus on what’s important.  When you get to the end will you celebrate the fact that you never allowed yourself to really enjoy your food?  Will you be glad that you constantly beat yourself up because you didn’t look like the media says you should?

Will you be pleased that you never got round to taking that trip?  Or writing that book?  Or pursuing something you’re passionate about?

How will other people remember you?  Did you brighten their day?  Or were you known for criticising and complaining?  Will you be pleased that your kids remember you mostly as a disciplinarian, a buzz kill?  Oh well, at least they did as they were told.

I get that we have responsibilities.  But we let fear hold us back.  What if?  What if you try something and you fail?  What if you look stupid?  What if you lose everything?  So what.  What if I get to the end and realise I could’ve been more?  I could’ve seen more.  I could’ve served more.

There’s no safety in being the same person today as you were yesterday.  That’s just an illusion that ends up breaking your heart when you get to the end of your life and realise that you missed out on living it boldly.  (Robin Sharma)

Forget the small stuff.  Forget the food tribalism.  Let go of the need to ‘win’ the argument.  Appreciate simple things.  Forge beautiful relationships.  Create special moments and collect great memories. Write a bucket list and practice being courageous.  Have fun.  Because, before you know it, that last grain of sand will drop from your hourglass.  You will die.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. (Steve Jobs)

 

BIG IDEA: Everybody dies.  And many people die with a pile of regret.  We postpone our dreams …until it’s too late.

TAKEAWAY: Your death need not be seen as morbid.  It’s inevitable, and recognising that you will die someday can help you focus on what matters most today.

ACTION STEP: Write a bucket list …and start living now!  Want to read more?  Check out my book, Energy Is Everything: Mindset, Nutrition and Exercise for the best version of you.  It’s available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.

Always Keep Reaching!
Mike