Do you remember being a kid and hearing adults say things like, “Life is short. It goes by so fast”? I thought that was crazy, because my next birthday always seemed sooooo far away. Right?
But the older I get, the more I realize they were right.
Children who were toddlers the last time we saw them are suddenly full grown.
Neighbourhoods we remember as quaint are now overrun with development.
People we loved are gone.
I’m grateful for this more mature outlook I have now. It’s made me even more determined to be sure I’m putting the most I can into my short time on this earth.
Death is a part of life, and even if we fear it, we can get some value from its certainty. It can inspire us to love ourselves and others, to live by our values, and to leave things a little better than we found them. That includes staying as strong and healthy as we can.
I love a poem by Mary Oliver called “The Summer Day.” Her last lines sum it up so beautifully.
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
Are you making the most of your one shot at this life? What’s one thing you can do today to accelerate your happiness, fulfillment, or abundance? I’d love if you’d reply and let me know.
