Live a Life that Matters

The only thing that matters is if we lived our life the way we wanted to.

It’s not about the money, the friends, not about the family, or even how much fun we’ve had. It’s not about achievements, personal development, relationships or our legacy.

None of that matters if we did not get to choose it ourselves, or if we would have rather done something different.

The thing that matters most then is that we chase what we want with reckless abandon! That we fully engage with everything we can and that we invest in whatever path we choose.

At the end of it all, when we are on our deathbed and we look back, we will ask ourselves what really mattered.

“Did I do everything I wanted to? Do I remember the times that took my breath away? Did I lead the life I wanted? Was it my life? Would I live this life again?”

For each and every one of us the reasons we would answer those questions with a resounding “YES” are different.

Some of us may look back and see our family smiling, loving and caring for them. Others may look back and remember the times we pushed for our own goals. And others still may think about our life and feel satisfied and happy because we led a life full of unique experiences.

What matters to us in the end is dependent on who we are and no one can let us know what that may be.

We will make mistakes on this path, will fall flat on our faces, hurt ourselves and may make decisions we regret, but at least it will be our path and not anybody elses.

It will be our wins, our victories, our experiences, our joy and our life.

“You don’t have to defend or explain your decisions to anyone. It’s your life. Live it without apologies.” — Mandy Hale

No one is perfect and there will be things we realize we should have done differently. But we always see it that way in hindsight, that should not discourage us from making our own choices.

For the problem in choosing the path others give to us is that it may go wrong as well.

We may not find happiness on that path, may not look back with pride and the advice of others may even lead to a life we despise.

And then what? No matter how much we blame them or how much ownership they take of our path, it is still us on the deathbed in the end.

I know you’re scared about what’s ahead. I know you are unsure of which path to take. I know that it’s not easy.

But most of that fear comes from the belief of making a mistake, and I’ll tell you right here: You will make mistakes. Many, many, many mistakes. But every single mistake you make choosing your own path is better than no mistake choosing a path you never wanted to take.

If you are not there yet, if you are not where you want to be yet or are not living a life that you feel was your own, then it’s about time you start.

Start living your life with reckless abandon. Commit fully to your choices. Leave nothing undone at the end of each day. Smile widely. Laugh loudly. And make the best choice you can every single time.

You still have the opportunity right now to choose how to live the rest of your life.

And all you have to do to is to choose to make it one worth living, to chase the things you want, and to keep getting better and better as you go along.

“It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. It’s not what you see, it’s how you look at it. It’s not how your life is, it’s how you live it.” — Unknown

Too many people nowadays regret the choices they did not make, not the ones they did.

They regret not being brave enough to meet new people, not being bold enough to ask themselves the tough questions, not being courageous enough to do what they know is right and not blunt enough to take the uncomfortable steps.

All because they are too afraid of choosing a wrong turn.

Please, do yourself the favor and be more bold.

You know far more than you think you do and are far more capable but you have to be brave enough to follow through with those decisions.

Pick something, anything, to pursue and really give it your all.

Test how far you can go, surprise yourself, and truly commit.

Honor your own word and give this life an honest try.

You will make some mistakes along the way, but it will at least be better than asking “What could have been…?” when it’s too late to do anything about it.