Michael Di Lauro

How old are you?
Whatever your reply, I bet you’re not old enough.
Old enough to have real regrets.

The other day, I came upon a thought-provoking piece attributed to ex-NFL lineman Joe Ehrmann. It goes like this; there are Three Things the Elderly Regret not Having Done,

Those three regrets are:
1: Not leaving a legacy
2: Not taking time for reflection
3: Not taking more risks

Can you do me a favour?
Can you sit back and think about those three things?
Go ahead,
Think about them long and hard.
Think about how those three things relate to what you’re trying to accomplish—today—in your everyday life.
As you rush—feverishly—through your days,
Just trying to get things done,
How mindful are you of those three things?

Well, let’s see.
Do any of us think of legacies?
How could we?
We’re busy.
Working at our jobs, making ends meet.
We have bosses and obligations,
Colleagues and commitments,
Legacies?
Who has time?

What about risks?
How many of us take risks?
Other than, maybe, throwing caution to the wind during a weekend rafting expedition,
Or a bungee jumping excursion,
Most of don’t venture too far out on that limb.
For many of us, taking risks with our careers, with our livelihood—with the stuff we’d really love to do,
Is all—you know—too risky.

What was the last thing?
Ah yes, reflection.
Do we stop and reflect?
Actually, many of us do.
And what do we reflect on?
On our future.
On what we’re going to do, once we’re done with whatever it is—our jobs, our businesses, our careers—we’re doing now.
We reflect on what we’re going to accomplish,
On how great our lives will be,
At some hazy, uncertain point in the future.
And until that hazy, hopeful future arrives,
We continue to live our lives—with not much more than a glint of reflection.

And that’s what I find curious about the Three Things the Elderly Regret not Having Done
Do you see?
In our 30s, our 40s, and even into our 50s and 60s…
We sometimes think about all the wonderful, meaningful, fun things we’re going to do—some day.
Then…
We wake up and and realize…
We’ve arrived at that hazy, uncertain point of our lives,
Where there are more yesterdays than tomorrows,
And, suddenly, we’re the ones thinking of Three Things we Regret not Having Done.

My message is simple.
Don’t wait to find your purpose.
Don’t wait to pursue your passion, or to do what’s meaningful.
Go ahead,
Reflect on what’s important.
Go ahead,
Take a few risks.
Go ahead,
Leave a legacy.
Go ahead,
Live your life, every day. Turn your work into play. And never, ever stop pursuing your passion.
Go ahead.
Do it now.

And,
If you keep visiting my blog, I’ll show you how.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

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  • Tags [How to live a happy life]
  • Categories [About the NPV of Life]

When first seeing my book, many people ask,
The Net Present Value of Life? What does that mean, anyway?

With no lengthy preamble, no rambling introduction, here are a few suggestions.

The Net Present Value of Life means…

• Today—this moment—is the most valuable thing you possess;

• The future—tomorrow—is tenuous and uncertain;

• The value of life, today, is therefore greater than the uncertain value of life in the future;

• In each of us, there’s a tendency to say, “One day, I will…” and, by saying so, to postpone the achievement of a rewarding life;

• The notion that you must work for decades at potentially uninspiring jobs, and then, at some hazy, uncertain date, achieve happiness by retiring is one that is as outdated as it is unbelievable;

• There are, simply, too many myths about retirement;

• The courage to walk away from an empty, unfulfilling career is more rewarding than it is rare;

• There is no better career choice than the pursuit and attainment of passion and  purpose;

• To live a life not dictated by society, by the experts, by the boss, the neighbours or, even, by public opinion is less difficult than imagined;

• There is satisfaction derived from remembering that you’re in charge of your life, that you’re the one firmly planted in the driver’s seat;

• The only meaningful drumbeat to march to is the one that you create;

• Caring and careful counsel provided by loved ones should never be confused with the warnings and reprimands of doubting naysayers;

• The one scarce, valuable (and non-renewable) resource is time;

• There are but a few ingredients to a happy life. They include; health, relationships, love, purpose, passion, inspiration, determination, belief, honesty, laughter, potential, and possibility;

• Money is just another of life’s ingredients, and it’s one that will never buy any of the ingredients listed above;

• There is as much illusion to money as there is value;

• Material possessions will never result in true happiness; defining your own version of success will;

• And finally, The Net Present Value of Life means: Living fully every day, turning work into play, and never, ever stopping to pursue your passion.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

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  • Tags [How to live a happy life]
  • Categories [About the NPV of Life]