Happy Wednesday!
Let's think about the order of things...
At a high level, here's how life works for most of us:
We go to school
We go to work
We go to retirement
Or, put another way, we:
Learn
Earn
Enjoy
But why wait until you're in your 60s or 70s to enjoy your life?
That's why I think this approach to life is out of order.
Why not infuse enjoyment throughout your life instead of waiting until the last third of your years to really start living it up?
The reason why is fear.
Fear that we'll run out of money before we run out of blood pressure.
I addressed that idea in last week's email about retirement guardrails.
And as I wrote in that email, that's just no way to live.
Yet I've also met people - you probably have too - that have more money than they know what do to with. And many seem to also have anxiety or downright fear around their lives as well.
Perhaps part of why we do this is based on perceived expectations.
It's how everyone else does it, so who am I to think I can do things differently?
Maybe I don't deserve to live a happy, fulfilled life with so much pain and suffering in the world around me.
For more on this, see my recent email on mimetic desire.
Regardless of why we collectively live our lives this way, I have good news!
You don't have to.
Not any longer.
You can start living AND enjoying your life today.
At the same time.
They're not mutually exclusive.
But it takes some courage.
Some boldness not to just think, but to believe, it's your life and you're responsible for living it on purpose.
Now this might cause a little short-term change and discomfort.
But I think it's worth a shot.
Sorry, I'll get down off my soapbox now...
It's just frustrating to see and hear about people who are enslaved by their career or their lifestyle or their things or something else.
If you don't know the name Bronnie Ware, she's an Aussie palliative care nurse, working with people in the final weeks of their lives.
Her research and experience working with those at the end of their life was something she summed up in the 5 Regrets of the Dying:
I wish I had pursued my dreams
I wish I hadn't worked so hard and spent more time with my family
I wish I would have expressed my feelings more often
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
I wish I had allowed myself to be happier
And you know what's cool?
Many of the 5 things listed above, you can start to address right now.
Why wait?
Whether it's your career, your retirement planning, or just reaching out to an old friend, don't settle for anything less than making the most of the one wonderful life you've been given.
Starting today!
It's about choosing. And the choice is yours.
A parting thought:
How would you live your life if you didn't care what anyone else thought?
Links & Things
If any of the above resonates with you, watch this 25 minute TED Talk on:
Thank you, as always, for reading.
And if you have any questions or an idea for a future newsletter, blog post, or YouTube video, I'd love your input.
Just hit reply - I read (and appreciate) every email you send.
Until next Wednesday,
Russ