Sometime in 2022, I spent my billionth second. Even if I live to 90, more than a third of my time is gone. That’s kind of scary. It’s also kind of liberating.
A third of my life is over, but I am still here. Still happy, at least on most days. I have goals to complete, challenges to face, and things to experience. I’m not going to run out of meaning any time soon.
Are you supposed to feel anxious when you realize a large chunk of your life has already passed? Is that what 30th birthdays are meant to do? I definitely feel like I have a lot more accomplish. Some things I worry I might not finish in time. Overall, however, the nagging “do more” feeling is rather small.
In contrast, what I have done feels quite astonishing. Not in a grandiose, “Look at me and my achievements” sense but in a “Wow, so this is how much life you can fit into three decades” sense. Sometimes, I remember a high school field trip, a late night college studying session, or a music album I listened to 17 years ago, and I’m surprised that a.) I’ve held so many identities and b.) my brain still retains all of them. Nothing is ever lost.
Are you still a time billionaire? How do you feel about the seconds you’ve spent? Do they feel like a loss? Or does everything seem to be in its place? Regardless of how you feel about your past today, fretting away tomorrow’s seconds is not the answer.
The most important billion is not the one you fail to make but the one you fail to spend — with a purpose, that is. Seconds are worth more than dollars. Here’s to your next billion!
Grab a copy of Nik’s new book, 2-Minute Pep Talks.
2-Minute Pep Talks is a collection of 67 jolts of inspiration for more hope, comfort, and love in any situation. With more than two months of daily inspiration across five categories, 2-Minute Pep Talks will make you feel more comfortable in your own skin, remind you to love yourself enough to ask life for what you truly want, and provide you with the world’s scarcest resource: hope. Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up, new perspectives, or more fuel to accomplish your dreams — if you’re ready to regain that light, passionate, optimistic feeling we all used to possess as children, this book is for you.
AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON!
—
This post was previously published on Niklas Göke’s blog.
***
You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project:
White Fragility: Talking to White People About Racism | Escape the “Act Like a Man” Box | The Lack of Gentle Platonic Touch in Men’s Lives is a Killer | What We Talk About When We Talk About Men |
Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community.
A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities.
A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.
Register New Account
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
—
Photo credit: iStock