71 Comments

I'm currently reading Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman so this is definitely resonating.

I'm also a big fan of traveling - my gf and I did the move to Mexico for a year (ironic) and are now back to help care for her mother. Life is short! Thanks for the great article, Tim.

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It's such a great book Ted

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Yep. I relate to it. A few weeks ago had a relative drop dead suddenly from a heart attack no- one saw coming. Started getting my own dicky ticker symptoms (sympathy pains?) and that frightened the bejeesus out of me. Now I'm doing stuff I wouldn't have before (like leaving this comment, Truth to Truth). And also getting tests and adjusting my habits in the healthy direction.

Do one thing each day that scares you, I've heard it said. Maybe do a few.

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What a powerful reminder. Why wouldn't you have left a comment in the past Fi?

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I may have commented Tim, but not with such personal info!. My personal boundaries are lowering because I've realised we all have truths to share and being authentic is powerful. (hmm may have been an online writing mentor who showed me that?)

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The example of the Royal Family resonated. I've been thinking about them since last Friday. If someone who can eat the best food and get the best medicine still gets cancer... We must be in one hell of a hurry to live our lives to the fullest.

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It got me too Denis. Do you reckon the King dies?

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No, they won't let him :)

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So they play god? lol

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Haha don't they sometimes? :)

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Another wake-up call. Take a tape measure and stretch it out to 90 inches. Then put in your age in inches and see where it is on the tape.

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Never heard of this trick. Where did you learn it Jeanine.

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A friend who was over 60. He said it’s sobering.

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It’s never too late or too early to love living your life.

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Agree Val.

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Spend time with family. You may haven't got what Jerry's kids do, but you have family. This is a good post.

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Great advice Paulo.

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Keep your writings coming. Love em. :)

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Thank you for this eye-opening article, Tim!

I had those excuses too, and I'm still struggling with self-worth and negative mindset, but I'm working on it and I'm not giving up!

What I experience is that people think life goes on forever until someone suddenly dies or they have health issues, and then it's usually too late to put life upside-down.

My dad now being at the age his mom died makes me appreciate my parents and family a lot more, and I'm working hard to get the freedom I want to spend time with them (that means spending time with them now already and finding a job with more flexibility).

Even though my parents don't have health issues yet, I'm waiting until they do to spend time with them.

Thank you for the reminder!

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What's the cause of the negative mindset Karina? A bad job?

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I think my negative mindset comes from my childhood: getting bullied, negative beliefs (and money mindset) from my parents and teachers, my younger siblings being smarter and more successful than me...

I'm working on improving my self-confidence, believing in myself, my success and my potential

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You sell this well Tim! It is a stark reminder that life is for living and life is finite.

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What's it going to take for more people to realize Anne?

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Who knows the answer to that Tim but writing about it and living your life with that stoic appreciation of 'amor fati' is gonna to serve you and will serve others as well. I know I need constant reminders

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Ryan Holidays does this well, don't you think?

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Very

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So direct yet so true, thanks Tim

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You reckon it's direct?

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That's a terrific chart - love it.

Also love the quote "decisions are generally reversible, inaction is not". Like marriage - been through a few reversals there. Made me realize what didn't work (valuable experience).

On the 4000 weeks, and your illness - I caught salmonella while living in Myanmar - threw up so much I got a chunk of 1/2 digested pizza stuck in my sinus for two weeks. Also caught dengue twice, which the 2nd time landed me for a week in a Bangkok hospital for blood transfusions. Life expectancy there is only 66 years so not a lot of purple-living for most of those folks.

Thanks for putting things back into perspective - compared to most, I am privileged to live the life that I live, and have lived.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to f*ck off and get some writing done.

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No probs. It's Tim Urban's chart. Where do you write John?

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This def resonates with me. I'm a get s#*% done kinda person and this post motivates me in more ways than one, which also contradict each other. Do more. Work less. I'll let you know when I've figured it out. ;)

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Life is a paradox Alexis. Do you agree?

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Well said.

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Glad your better and back, even sickness can give us useful insights . Thank You 🙏🏻

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Thanks Susan. Have you had food poisoning before?

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Yea, its horrible and life changing but not in a way you want ...

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I feel lucky not to eat meat, because that makes it more common.

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waaa! and LOL! but mostly waaa! Can't stay away from your Unfiltered.

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You're so kind Connie. Thank you.

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Thanks Tim. Timely advice. 4000 hours resonates because – this is it! There is no waiting. Just get on with it.

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Yes, this resonates with me as a 40 year old. I love the urgency this brings. Thanks for sharing and reminding me.

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We need ,ore urgency Ashley. Do you already have it?

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