Lasting words from a stranger on a train

Through this pandemic, I find myself thinking of a conversation I had with an older man on the go-train in my early thirties. He was visiting his daughter in Ajax because he felt lost. You see, his wife of 36 years had just passed away months before they were set to start their hard earned retirement and sail the world.

He told me how they saved every penny they could and didn't take vacations. He told me how they had held onto a big house for too long & denied themselves of experiences that he would trade anything for. His advice to me was simple. He said not to save every cent for the future, but instead; live life as you go along, because you never know what lies ahead.

This can't ring truer than it does right now for everyone. The world is changing and sometimes it feels like a game of musical chairs. Where are we going to be when the music stops? Most people are re-evaluating their lives & where they are not just geographically, but also financially and even emotionally.

Some people are relocating, while others are hunkering down. Some are buying toys to enjoy new experiences, while others are selling everything. Some people are changing vocations, while others are improving the one they have. The only thing that is collectively consistent is the awareness that life is not promised. Every action or in-action counts.

You learn that everything can change on a dime. Things you thought were important can fade & things you had never thought of suddenly take centre stage.

New priorities form into new outlooks and those outlooks can change the landscape of your future. You realize that shrinking your circle strengthens it and not every battle is worth fighting.

Surround yourself with people who see your value and value what you see in them. Enjoy the things that make you happy and cherish the ones who love you. When you do, you'll start living the memories you always wanted to make, by living life as you go along.