There’s a big difference between empty fatigue and gratifying exhaustion. Life is too short not to focus more on what matters most.
Before you know it you will be asking, “How did it get so late so soon?” Perhaps you can already relate. So take time to reflect. Take time to realize what you want and need in the days and weeks ahead. Take time to take calculated risks. Take time to love, laugh, cry, learn, and forgive. Life is so much shorter than it often seems.
In our line of work we speak with people on a weekly basis who have been forced to ‘wake up’ to life’s fleeting nature. Consider these two excerpts from people’s stories that we recently received in our email inbox (both are being shared with permission):
- “Earlier today, in what’s likely to be one of our final conversations, she told me her only regret was that she didn’t appreciate every year with the same passion and purpose that she has had in the last two years after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. ‘I’ve accomplished so much recently,’ she said. ‘If I had only known, I would have started sooner.’”
- “This afternoon I was looking through an old Windows laptop that my dad used ten years ago before he died in a car accident. The laptop has been sitting around collecting dust at my mom’s house ever since. In a folder named ‘Video Project’ oddly placed at the root of the C: drive, I found a video file my dad made about a month before he died that my mom and I had never seen before. In the 15-minute video my dad talks about my mom and me, how grateful he is to be a part of our lives, and that he has no regrets at all about anything in his life — that he is totally at peace. He ended by saying, ‘I know you two might miss me someday since I’m the oldest, but please smile for me, because I’ve lived well…’”
These people’s stories are both inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. And yet, they are incredibly common stories. Wake-up calls to life being short eventually ring true in every one of our lives, sometimes much sooner than we had expected. Which is precisely why Marc and I try to remind people to stop waiting. Now is the time to start learning, growing, and moving forward — so at the very least, you can rest free of regrets someday like the dad in the second story.
Remember, too many people wait all day for 5pm, all week for Friday, all year for the holidays, all their lives for happiness… And YOU don’t have to be one of them! Don’t wait until your life is almost over to realize how good it has been, or how much potential you had literally every step of the way. It’s time to wake up and make the most of what’s in front of you.
Here are ten quick wake-up calls you need to receive today, before it’s too late:
1. This moment is your real life.
Your real life is not between the moments of your birth and death. Your real life is between now and your next breath. The present — the here and now — is all the life you ever truly get. So practice living each moment in full, in kindness and peace, without fear or regret. And just do the best you can with what you have in this moment, because that’s all you can ever expect of anyone, including yourself. (Read “The Power of Now”.)
2. A lifetime isn’t very long.
Eighty years isn’t guaranteed. Many people get far less. Again, today is your life and you’ve got to fight for it! Fight for what’s right. Fight for what you believe in. Fight for what’s important to you. Fight for the people you love, and never forget to tell them how much they mean to you. Realize that right now you’re lucky because you still have a chance. So stop for a moment and think. Whatever you still need to do, start doing it today — take the next step. There are only so many tomorrows.
3. The sacrifices you make today will pay dividends in the future.
When it comes to working hard to achieve a dream — earning a degree, building a business, or any other personal achievement that takes time and commitment — one thing you have to ask yourself is: “Am I willing to live a few years of my life like many people won’t, so I can spend the better part of my life like many people can’t?” Let that sink in. May your dreams be bigger than your fears. May your actions speak louder than words. May your life preach louder than your lips… and may success be your noise in the end.
4. When you procrastinate you become a victim to yesterday.
Yes, procrastination holds you back. But when you are proactive and productive, it’s as if yesterday is a kind friend that helps take a load off your back. So do something right now that your future self will thank you for. Trust me, tomorrow you’ll be happy you started today. (Note: Marc and I discuss this in more detail in the Success chapter of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently”.)
5. Failures are often good lessons.
Good things come to those who still hope even though they’ve been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they’ve tasted failure, to those who still love even though they’ve been hurt. So give yourself grace, and grow from the situations that didn’t work out. Remind yourself that you can disappoint people and still be good enough. You can fail and still be smart, capable and talented. You can let people down and still be worthwhile and deserving of love and admiration. We all make mistakes sometimes. Take a deep breath. You are allowed to be human, and learn the way on the way.
6. YOU are your most valuable relationship.
Sometimes we try to show the world we are flawless in hopes that we will be liked and accepted by everyone, but we can’t please everyone and we shouldn’t try. The beauty of us lies in our vulnerability, our complex emotions, and our authentic imperfections. When we embrace who we are and decide to be authentic, instead of who we think others want us to be, we open ourselves up to real relationships, real opportunities, and real success. So nurture the relationship you have with yourself today. You are GOOD enough, SMART enough, FINE enough, and STRONG enough. You don’t need other people to validate you; you are already VALUABLE.
7. A person’s actions speak the truth.
You’re going to come across people in your life who say all the right words at all the right times, but in the end it’s their actions you should judge them by. So pay attention to what people do consistently. Their daily actions will tell you almost everything you need to know. And remember that today is too important to waste. Take good care of your personal boundaries and what you allow yourself to absorb from others. Count your blessings, value the people who truly matter — the ones whose actions match their words — and move on from the drama with your head held high.
8. Small acts of kindness can make the world a better place.
Just keep reminding yourself that everyone you see around you is a human being who dreams of something, fears something, loves someone, and has lost someone. And… just keep being kind. Kindness is the only investment that never fails in the long run. And wherever there is a human being, there’s an opportunity for kindness. Learn to give, even if it’s just a smile, not because you have too much, but because you understand there are so many others who feel like they have nothing at all.
9. Behind every beautiful life there has been some kind of worthwhile struggle.
You trip and you fall, you make mistakes and you fail, but you stand strong through it all — you live and you learn. You’re human, not perfect. You been wounded, not defeated. Think of what a priceless gift it is to grow through these experiences — to breathe, to think, to struggle, and to overcome challenges in the pursuit of the things you love. Yes, sometimes you will encounter heartache along the way, but that’s a small price to pay for immeasurable moments of love and joy. Which is why you must keep stepping forward even when it hurts, because you know the inner strength that has carried you this far can carry you the rest of the way.
10. Time and experience heals pain, and it can’t be rushed.
Recently, when Marc and I asked his 80-year-old dad about overcoming pain, this is how he explained it to us: Look at the circles below. The black circles represent our relative life experiences. Mine is larger because I am older and have experienced more in my lifetime. The smaller red circles represent a negative event in our lives. Assume we both experienced the same exact event, whatever the nature. Notice that the negative event circles are the same size for each of us; but also notice what percentage of the area they occupy in each of the black circles. Your negative event seems much larger to you because it is a greater percentage of your total life experiences. I am not diminishing the importance of this event; I simply have a different perspective on it. What you need to understand is that an overwhelmingly painful event in your life right now will one day be part of your much larger past and not nearly as significant as it seems.
Now it’s your turn…
Yes, it’s your turn to make the most of what’s in front of you! So I hope you will have an inspired day today, that you will dream boldly and dangerously, that you will make some progress that didn’t exist before you took action, that you will love and be loved in return, and that you will find the strength to accept and grow from the troubles you can’t change. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and wisdom in this world), that you will, when you must, be wise with your decisions, and that you will always be extra kind to yourself and others.
And please leave Marc and me a comment below and let us know what you think of this post. Your feedback is important to us. 🙂
(Finally, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.)
Susie says
Oh my goodness. This article truly has hit many nerves. So many emotions of days gone by resurfaced. I’m 68, widowed for one month short of 2 years. Hmm. My 95 year young father lives with me and pretty much consumes my entire being. Being a caregiver can be exhausting at times as any caregiver does know. Marc and Angel your insightful words realign my focus and purpose God has given me for such a time as this and gives me the courage and strength to keep moving forward in a positive manner. Kindness, oh yes my dear people, without it, life looks ugly and mundane. M & A, your God given insight and purpose is speaking volumes to people. Carry on, life is good if you live it purposefully and with kindness indeed.
Jyotsna Cherukuri says
Wonderful article which makes us think precisely about life and how much value it has. The article clearly explains how to articulate the happenings in our life and move on.
Manash says
You are successfully in waking up the part of me procrastinate fear to dangerously courageous enough to dream big as I had fall very hard, badly hurt myself and snooze ing all wake up call. I am taking action today as I am inspired Thank you for showing up. I PRAY FOR HAPPINESS GOOD HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.GOD BLESS ALL OF US!!!
Stella says
Brilliant!
M.W. says
*singing*
“SIMPLY THE BEST!!!! BETTER THAN ALL THE REST!!!”
….AMAZING & AWE INSPIRING! TRUTH is ALWAYS Good/HEALING MEDICINE for life’s normal pains.
Andrew A Molina says
God loves you for how you have extended kindness for others throughout life’s seasons
Richard Fallegger says
Thank you again for your valuable insights. No. 10 hit me most, but positively… the more you do in and with your life, the less the negative events (the red dots) will count… such a perfect statement… therefore really my takeaway is to “Do it” right away what is important for me and also for my loved ones, even though there might be so many reasons not to “Do it”…
Thank you again for your insights.
Kind regards
Richard
Marina Chase says
Thank you for such inspiring insights. They are very thought provoking and motivating.
Jean says
I am so close to just sobbing. As I read through each segment, the words, thoughts and ideas resonated so strongly. About 6 months ago, I started messaging a man that I knew in high school. We graduated in 1966 from a small high school on Cape Cod. We would see each other at two subsequent class reunions. After the second reunion, we spent some time together but there were complications that kept us from moving forward together. Both of us had spouses each of whom died 4 years ago. Being in our mid-seventies propelled me to ask if we could talk and then I asked to see him in person. We live 900 miles apart! I knew the moment that I saw him through the windshield of his truck, as he picked me up at the airport, that this was right. We found the reunion to be magical….it was meant to be. I have hesitated about making the move to truly be together for the rest of our lives no matter what life brings. The words that you wrote have given me clarity. No more hesitating and living through the daily “What ifs”. Thank you.
Sophia says
Wow, what beautiful story. Wishing you both the best. ?
Thank you for sharing.
Nikki says
As a younger (68) “old” person, I just have to say this post is completely lovely! I am printing out many copies and sending to the people I love! This should honestly be given to every human being, every decade they are alive! No doubt everyone should read this, at least a dozen times or so!!! Wisdom for your entire life!!
Carl Haldeman says
I especially liked number ten. That one to me says, no matter what you can live with what happened and look forward to your future. Give yourself time.
Sandy says
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You and Marc are an inspiration par excellence. I share you posts with so many people and it uplifts them and me too. Most people don’t do emails so I give them bite-sized snippets to get them through the day. They really appreciate your motivation and encouragement. You have a mission to touch lives. Just run the course because it matters to many of us out here. Fond regards.
Sandy,
Pretoria,
South Africa
Lynda says
I just recently lost my husband nine weeks ago, and I am experiencing things I never thought I would have to deal with. And I just happened to see your article here and took time to read it. It’s amazing how it spoke to my very soul. I have been in so much pain since my husband passed away, but this article has opened my eyes to live every day as if it were last. Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I look forward to your emails in the coming days and weeks.
Cassandra Moore says
I feel like you really hit all the points here. The only thing I personally would add is to wake each day grateful…even if things are tough find one thing. Your job, your child, your friends… the sun is shining.
Also, to give back a little. A smile, to say thank you to the clerk who just dealt with a difficult person makes you both feel better. Etc.
Maybeimgoodenough says
Well… everyone has something meaningful to say in the comments, and I’m getting as much out of them as I did your original post. Wasn’t expecting that.
Don’t really know what else to say, maybe this was just a lot for an anxious soul like myself to read all at once but… I hope all the wisdom on this page stays with me in my most doubtful moments.
Mary M Ferrin says
Wow, I’ve been struggling with family issues over taking care of my parents, sisters thought I needed to do a lot more than my share since I recently retired. Reading this confirmed I have to live for me also!! Thanks.
John Stuckey says
Thank you.
My Dad told me that it seemed to take forever to get to be 10 years old. 10-20 moved quicker but still frustratingly slow. Each future decade seemed to go faster at an accelerating pace. Between 80 and 90 it was a “blink of an eye” for him.
Betty Lou Cox says
Love your messages.. God bless you KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKS
Tanya says
Thank you needed to hear this
Paula says
Thank you so much for sharing your essays. Each and every one of them are so inspiring. Thank you again , they keep me on track , I try every day to practice being mindful and your essays are just what I need. Very much appreciated Paula
Marilyn Klerx-Hardie says
For me, it boils down to this: When my first reaction is “Oh NO!”, I CHANGE that reaction to: “Okay. What must I learn here?”
Diana nana says
This article is the best gift of 2024 for me because something GREAT just happened inside of me…
I’m already making list of my love ones that will receive this piece,
Thank you so very very much, I can’t love you guys enough!
Ginger Crawford says
This was a very good article and hit me like a brick as I’m a 70 yr woman who has a young heart with so much living I hope to have. I have taken care of both my parents until their death even though I had 4 siblings to help me,I was always the one to step up and do the job.I loved them dearly,then my husband had a massive stroke,I took care of him until his death 4 years ago. My older sister died 6 months later. My point is I’ve always gave of myself to help others. I’m all alone now,I have 2 children that I text every day to tell them I love them as I know life is short so show mostly when you can and tell them you love them before you can’t. I do have regrets but I’m so glad I told and showed the ones I loved before they died. Yes,this article helped me so much as I know I only have so much time to show and give love. I try to be kind to everyone I encounter. Thank You for a wonderful article
Ms.Crawford.
Kulsum Hassen says
At 68 and after a solo vacation (I live in Malawi and visited USA which was long overdue) . For the last 12 years I went through losing my parents, a divorce (and we still live together and he is an alcoholic). Some challenges with children. Health issues.But the Almighty showed me so much love and I built a charity with just following words like yours. Its called Footprints of Amama and I help girls to stay in school, feed orphan children, etc . The centre has a free library and playground for poor children from the village. Some of all you have said is what has helped me to be happy and satisfaction out of life. Great words of inspiration. God bless you in abundance.
Bindu nair says
Thanks for this insightful article.This is such a great article. I understand that, We have to first love our own selves, take care of own self before we can genuinely love others or take care of others. We have to live in the now instead of waiting for tomorrow to come.
Jes says
I loved this article.
Swarnim says
Thank you is a small world but all I can give you. I am more than grateful i clicked on this post. I am 18 and i recently failed an exam, a College entrance exam and the mistake was majorly mine. While I made that mistake, I kept thinking that I had to be this perfect image of a person who never had problems and later i couldn’t ask for help even if i wanted. Now I have let go of the mask. I believe that was a lesson to me. And I felt so bad for my failure that my thoughts were really bad
But the post acts as a healing one.
Thank you so much from my heart
May you a have a good day ahead
Chelle says
Great words, my dad had a brain injury after being hit by a car in 1986, just some random person or friend saying you are walking better today Ron would make his day.
He’s been gone for 11yrs, but always talk to people because he told us you never now what they’ve been through
Thanks for your post
Lee says
This article is wonderful. I wrote it down because there is so much more I need to learn. Thank you. The article meant a lot to me.
Cynthia says
Outstanding!
Thembie says
Thank you so much. I’m literally in tears.