I had a strange thought last night when I was sitting on my couch with my wife. We were both scrolling our phones, lost in the digital world like we all often do. While I was on my phone, I started to think, “When I’m in my fifties, what will I miss the most about now?”
I paused because that question really got me thinking deeply. The answer came as a shock to me: “I’d give anything to be in the moment I’m in right now. I’d want to be young, happy with my wife, and live to the fullest while I could.”
I immediately put my phone down and went to hug my wife. She was surprised by my action and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I didn’t say much. The only words that came out of my mouth were, “I love you, and I’m so grateful to have you in my life.”
This realization about my future gave me a reason to live my present to the fullest. I felt a deeper sense of gratitude for life—and for the present moment. I didn’t want to waste any time doing things I didn’t want to do or worry about things that didn’t matter. I didn’t want to argue with my wife over stupid stuff. I felt something unusual that I couldn’t explain.
I’m still carrying that emotion. The thought about being twenty years older gave me a new perspective on life. Everything has started to look different—a positive energy lightened up and gave me a new perspective on life.
If you want to feel the same energy and motivation to live your life to the fullest in the now, you must ask yourself the same question: “What will you miss the most about today when you are twenty years older?”
We don’t know what the future holds. Some of us might not even live long enough to be alive twenty years later. Nobody can predict what’s coming. With that in mind, think about the present moment and how you’re living your life right now. Are you living it to the fullest? Are you doing things you want to do? Or are you simply letting life happen?
Understand this: Regret hurts more than anything. Most people in their deathbeds regret not living life to the fullest. They wish they had done more things they wanted. They wish they had spoken to the people they wanted. They wish they hadn’t worked so hard and had spent more time with their loved ones. These are regrets about not living to the fullest when they could.
Nobody wants to have regrets like that. So, if you’re letting life happen and not doing the things you actually want, it’s time to change that. There is nothing more precious than the present moment because that is all you have. Spend the time you have doing what you love, with people you care about, without any regret.
I remember when I started blogging in 2020, I wished I had started ten years earlier because I felt left behind. Many writers who had started earlier were way ahead of the game. Then, after thinking about it for a few seconds, I promised myself I wouldn’t have the same regret in 2030—ten years from then. I can’t change the past, but I can surely make my future better. And I can only do that by making the right choices in the present moment.
Whatever you did in the past is gone. There’s no point in obsessing over your previous actions. The only thing you can do is live in the present and not repeat the same mistakes you made in the past. You can make your future better by focusing on your present actions.
Be clear about your goals so that they motivate you to make your present better. We often believe that our past shapes the future. But the truth is that the future shapes our present: when you have a clear purpose for the future—your why—you will live accordingly in the now.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Don’t wait for the perfect day. Do what you want now. Spend time with people you love. Do what matters today because tomorrow may not be there.
Hi, I’m Biliz. If you enjoyed this piece, join my weekly newsletter for more of my content.
