The most important conversation you ever have is the one you have with yourself on your deathbed. That moment is a reckoning—the time when you answer the question, “What meaning did my life have?”
After all, your life’s meaning is derived from what you did when it was yours to do something with. However, you can’t know when that conversation will happen or even if you will get to have it.
What to do?
Better to have that conversation sooner rather than later.
Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what is left and live it properly.
—Marcus Aurelius
Maybe suggesting that you imagine a conversation with your dying self lands as morbid? That’s partly intentional, a bit of what I call “empathetic antagonism.” I want to get under your skin to encourage you to have this difficult conversation now, so you don’t have a regretful one later.
If today was your dying day, what would you celebrate? What would you regret?
Make a list for each; celebrations, and regrets.
Now, what could you change right now to make your list of regrets shorter and the list of your celebrations longer?
