Living True to Yourself
Here’s something that’s been sitting heavy on my heart lately: none of us are here forever. It’s one of those truths we all know - but rarely talk about. It feels a little dark, maybe even uncomfortable... and yet, there’s something strangely freeing about it too. Like Drake said, "Everybody dies, but not everybody lives." And honestly? That line has been hitting different these days.
So many of us have experienced the loss of someone we love. For me, it was my dad. He passed away suddenly at just 54 years old from a brain aneurysm. One day he was here, full of plans and dreams for the future - and the next, he was gone. There was so much he still wanted to do. So many moments he thought he had more time for. And that’s the part that sticks with me. Because it’s a reminder: none of this is guaranteed.
When I look around, I see so many people just getting through life. Grinding away at work, counting down to the weekend. Holding everything together at home, juggling responsibilities that never seem to end. Some just trying to make it through the day. It’s so easy to fall into a routine, to push happiness to the future, to wait for the “right time” to start living. But the truth is, time is moving whether we pay attention or not. The real question isn’t how much time do I have left? It’s am I actually living? Not just getting through. Not just checking off boxes. But really, truly being present, appreciating what I have, and making space for joy-whatever that looks like.
Because while death is guaranteed, a full, meaningful life? That part is still up to us!
The Regrets That Stay With Us
Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse, spent years with people in their final days-and what she heard over and over again were the same quiet regrets. Not about money or fame, but about the things that really mattered.
Like the wish to have lived true to themselves-not just following the path others expected. It’s easy to get caught up in what we should do and forget to ask: What do I actually want?
Another common one? Not spending enough time with loved ones. We always assume we’ll have more time-more weekends, more phone calls, more dinners. But time moves fast. People change, grow, drift. Later doesn’t always come.
Then there’s the regret of working too much. Of letting ambition crowd out joy. Of being too busy chasing success to actually enjoy the life we’re building.
Many wished they had spoken their truth-shared how they really felt instead of holding it in. The love, the appreciation, the apology. What are we waiting for?
And maybe the most bittersweet of all: not allowing themselves to be happy. Waiting for the right moment instead of choosing joy in the middle of the mess.
These regrets aren’t just warnings-they’re invitations.
In The Power of Regret, author Daniel Pink explores how regret can actually help us. When we reflect on what we wish we’d done differently, we get clarity on what truly matters. Regret can be a compass-pointing us toward a better path if we’re willing to listen.
So maybe the real question isn’t what do I regret? Maybe it’s what do I still have time to change? We don’t have to do it all today. But we can take one honest step. Toward truth. Toward connection. Toward a life we won’t want to apologize for.
