To the people reading this who don’t know me: I’m not a pessimistic person. Actually, I consider myself a very positive person and I want you to know that. But, the cold and real truth is that every life has a final day. We all have a last day. And even colder and realer is the fact that we don’t know when our last day is. We don’t get a “Excuse me, today is your last day!” phone call, but if we did, would we act differently? Personally I would act a certain way…
I know you’re already expecting me to say “I’d go skydiving and Rocky Mountain climbing” (I’m not copying Tim McGraw) and cross off every high-intensity activity on my beautiful Bucket list (which actually does exist for me). And, I know that it sounds cliché, but I would do these things.
More importantly, though, after I went skydiving and Rocky Mountain climbing I would find every single person I loved and let them know how much they mean to me.
Life is a lot less about the things you do and the accomplishments you receive. Life is a lot more about the people you touch, and the people you meet, and the people who you love. I’d give my final day to these people. I’d remember my favorite moments in life and I’d share them with my loved ones. I’d tell them how much they mean to me and (hopefully) they’d tell me the same.
*Cue Tim McGraw “Live Like You Were Dying”* (only the greatest song that has ever existed) Please, listen to this song. This is a song to live by. If you’ve never heard it (we can’t be friends (I’m not joking)), here’s the link: https://youtu.be/OJejCUfdnCM (and then we can be friends after you listen)
*Cue Nickelback “If today was your last day”* I know it’s from 2011 (and Nickelback is kind of ehhh) but, “each day’s a gift and not a given right” belongs in the Constitution.
I hope you see my (and Tim Mcgraw’s and Nickelback’s) point: Love people. Live big. Be honest. Do what makes you happy. Be thankful. Live like you’re dying, because sadly we all are.
So, I know it's near the end of this article and half of you aren’t reading this any more and if you still are you're most likely just skimming and you’re not in the mood for me to throw another link at you. But seriously, Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address (start at 9:04). https://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc?t=9m4s
This insane I don’t even know where to begin. “If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right”, “Your time is limited; so don’t waste it”, “There is no reason not to follow your heart—This is the most motivation 5 minutes I’ve ever experienced, please experience it too.
To wrap it up… yeah, let’s be pessimistic for a second: we all have a last day. And we don’t know when it is. So live everyday like it’s your final day? Sounds like a plan to me.
