Day 38: Death (Again!)

 

So I was talking to my friend about death just a few minutes ago. PS I haven't slept since my last blog, so my friends and I decided today that since it's payday, we should just go out and drink. So drank we did, and here we are now talking about death. The whole argument is about: would you rather know that you are dying, say your goodbyes, and then let go, allow your spirit to leave your soul or your soul to leave your spirit, I mean, whichever leaves? Or would you rather just have sudden death, with dreams and hopes, no sorries, no goodbyes?

Look, let's not lose focus on the big picture here while paying attention to things that don’t matter. There is absolutely no real reason why you should feel guilty or empty for having a sudden death. Steve Jobs said in one of his speeches at Stanford Commencement, "If you live your day as if it were the last, one day you will most certainly be right."

See, what most people don’t really understand is that death is certain and most definitely unavoidable. And so, the best way to conquer it is just by simply living. Not lavishly, but fully, to your best potential, recognising the small moments that actually matter, and realising that touching grass is actually a thing, not of the past but definitely the now. Because at the end of it all, we don't get a redo. We don't get to negotiate with time. What we have is this moment, and we have to make it count

The Inevitability of Death

We don’t like to talk about it, but let’s be real, death is coming for all of us. No one gets out of here alive. Sounds bleak? Maybe. But that very fact should be the fire that fuels you to live like today actually matters. Because it does.

The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV), "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." In other words, this is it, make it count. There’s a certain kind of freedom in accepting that life is temporary. Instead of seeing it as something to fear, what if we saw it as a reminder to be bold, to be present, and to truly engage with the world around us?

The Two Regrets: The Things You Did vs. The Things You Didn’t Do

There are two types of regrets in life:

1. The things you did that you wish you hadn’t.

2. The things you never did but wish you had.

Scientific studies have shown that people at the end of their lives regret what they didn’t do far more than what they did. According to Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse who wrote The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, the most common regret was: "I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."

The moral of the story? Do the thing. Apply for that dream job. Travel to that place. Tell that person how you feel. Start the business. Learn the skill. Because regret is far heavier than failure ever will be. You can recover from failure. You can learn from it, grow from it, and use it to fuel your next steps. But regret? Regret lingers. It gnaws at you. It doesn’t let go.

Fear Is the Ultimate Thief

Marianne Williamson put it perfectly: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." And yet, so many of us live in fear of failure, of judgment, of the unknown.

But what if you stopped fearing failure and started fearing regret? What if you lived your life as if you were already on borrowed time? Because, spoiler alert! You are. Fear holds us back from taking risks, from chasing our dreams, from putting ourselves out there. But in the grand scheme of things, what’s worse? Failing at something or never trying at all?

The Legacy You Leave

At the end of the day, what are people going to remember about you? The money you made? The title you had? Or the way you made them feel, the moments you shared, and the impact you left behind?

Mark Twain once said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." That "why" is what you should be chasing, not just existence but meaning. Because meaning is what makes life rich. It’s what makes the struggle worth it. And it’s what ensures that, even after you’re gone, something of you remains.

How to Live Fully

1. Be present. Seriously. Stop scrolling, stop worrying about what’s next, and just be where you are. Engage with your surroundings. Take in the details. Appreciate the little things.

2. Take risks. The comfort zone is where dreams go to die. If you want something, go after it. Even if you fail, you’ll have tried.

3. Love deeply. People, experiences, moments, love them all without hesitation. Open yourself up to the fullness of life.

4. Forgive quickly. Holding onto anger and resentment? Waste of energy. Free yourself from grudges. Let go and move forward.

5. Create something. Anything. A piece of art, a book, a company, a legacy. Create something that outlives you, something that carries your essence forward.

6. Laugh often. Life is serious, sure, but it’s also ridiculous and wonderful. Find the humour in it. Enjoy the ride.

7. Prioritise what matters. Your time and energy are limited resources. Spend them wisely. Invest in what fills your soul, not just your pockets.

8. Say what needs to be said. Don’t hold back your words. Tell people you love them. Express gratitude. Apologise when necessary. Speak your truth.

Because This Is What We Do Now

You owe it to yourself to live. Not just breathe, not just exist, live. Because one day, your time will be up. And on that day, let’s hope you look back with peace, knowing you left nothing undone.

James 4:14 (NIV) reminds us, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

So while you’re here, live. Live loudly. Live boldly. Live with purpose. Because when your story is written, let it be a story worth telling.