17516 - Why I will never waste another minute on a hangover

Days Left On Earth: 17516

' It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.' - Seneca.

As I read these words from one of my heroes, Seneca, the roman philosopher, all I could think about was death. Even writing the word 'death' feels uncomfortable. To be clear, my thoughts were happy ones. I suddenly realised that no one has the right to a long life. Fait could take it away at any moment. There are no guarantees: Saints, heroes and villains all pass at some point. Just because you are a 'good' person does not mean you will live until a ripe old age passes serenely in your sleep.

In this moment of reflection, I feel strong and confident that I am making the most of this beautiful life. Equally, I understand that this is easy to say as I write these words feeling fit as a fiddle.

But what of fate?

The drunk driver, cancer, heart disease or sickness. Present-day health has nothing to say about such events. Life is so fragile. It takes the slightest slip, and it's over. Please understand me. This is not meant to sound morbid, and it did not feel like my mind was wandering toward my demise.

It was strangely liberating.

To know if I left the building of life, I could do so safe in the knowledge I have lived it.

What now?

Do I start to walk across roads with my eyes closed?

Why should I care about living well in the present if I am fearless of the future?

This mind exercise produced a simple answer:

I am more determined than ever to enjoy every second of this beautiful life. I will eat well and exercise to nourish my body with the elements required to thrive. It gave me the energy to extract every last drop from this beautiful life.

I will look after my mind as though it were a precious gem that should never be lost.

And I will never let a hangover rob me of another minute.

It is time to lift my head and smile at the stranger, for I am not scared of life anymore. No one or nothing can take it away from me before it's time.

I am ready, born ready. There is nothing to take, only extra to add. I will not sit around and wait for it to decide my ending.

I will write my script from this day on. If my play last's for another 20 minutes or 70 years, I will enjoy every second as best I can.

What will your story say?