Today is my 40th Birthday and I have 17,158 days left to live. Give or take a few….

That’s a scary thought.

According to one of those oh-so accurate life expectancy calculators, I am expected to live until age 87 and 3 months. Good news for me!

Living to age 87.25 will give me 31,758 days in which to live. Given my current age (weeping openly), I have used up 14,600, thus leaving me 17,158 days remaining.

The big 4-0 is a big deal for some and just another day for others. I’ve been thinking about this day for a while now and wasn’t sure how I would react.

Would it be just be business as usual? Would I have some kind of epiphany in the middle of the night? Would I become manically depressed and hole up in my basement for 2 weeks with 6 gallons of distilled water and a case of fig newtons? I really didn’t know.

Until now.

Realizing Our Own Mortality

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older-Anonymous

Getting older sucks. It’s not that we can’t do the things we used to (although losing weight is much harder now), it’s that we are that much closer to death. While death may be inevitable, it still scares the shit out of me.

I’ve got too much life still in me to die. And so do you. So what are we doing about that?

How many times have honestly asked yourself “what have I done with my life so far”? This can be a very eye opening question. Especially if you answer it truthfully.

The more important question however is “what am I going to do with my life starting today”?

So many times we get caught up in everyday life that we forget to answer this important question. We plan our vacations, we plan our kids birthday parties, but we never plan the rest of our lives.

Then one day we wake up and we’re 40 and the mortality tables tell us that our life is half over. And that’s if you have a healthy family history.

The Final Countdown

europe

Yes, I know this is a sweet song from the 80’s hair band Europe, but I’m not talking about them. I’m talking about the countdown to your last day on Earth. It could be 50 years from now or it could be right after you finish reading this post.

The point is that we have no idea how long we have to live. It’s time to take stock of what we’ve done so far in our lives and decide if we want to continue down the same path or start down a new one.

I have my answer.

If you can truly grasp the gravity of your life span and how precious life is, then it becomes a whole new ball game.

All I want you to do right now is think about what I’m saying. Don’t get out your notebook (or iPhone) and start setting goals and creating to-do lists. Just think.

Think about these things for a few minutes and see how you feel.

  • How did you feel when the Challenger crashed in 1986?
  • How did you feel when JFK was shot and killed?
  • How did you feel when Chris Farley collapsed and died?
  • How did you feel when Natalie Holloway disappeared?
  • How did you feel when Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped?

Do you want more time now? Me too, but we can’t have it. All we’ve got is now. Take it for all it’s worth and don’t look back. You never know when this day will be your last.

The thought of writing this post again at age 50 scares me to my core. What if I can’t get my shit together and create a successful business? What if my excuses and fears hold me back from quitting my job? What if I’m in the same or worse position in 10 years? What then?

I cannot let that happen. I just can’t. Neither can you.

How did you handle your 40th birthday? I’m curious to hear.

Birthday Wishes….

Now, if you happen to know about my crack-like addiction to Red Bull and you really want to get me something for my Birthday, you can!  Any Paypal donations will actually be used to buy Red Bull as I’m on a 2 cases per month habit…my internal organs are thanking you…

Just click on the can!

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