Quote 46: “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the life of others.” – Pericles
- Dr. ARUN V J
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Why Most of Us Live Life Wrong
There were kings before us. There will be millionaires and billionaires after us.
But here’s the hard truth: very few actually matter.
We spend our lives in a race we didn’t even sign up for—more money, bigger houses, shinier titles. Yet ask anyone on their deathbed if they wished they had one more paycheck or stayed one more hour at the office. You’ll never hear a yes.
Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse who worked in palliative care, recorded the top regrets of the dying. Among them:
“I wish I had lived true to myself, not what others expected of me.”
“I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
“I wish I had stayed in touch with friends.”
Not a single regret about missed business deals or unpaid overtime. Almost all were about life unlived.
And this isn’t just philosophy. Psychology tells us the brain naturally overvalues short-term rewards (like salary hikes, likes on social media, or material goods). But true fulfillment comes from experiences and relationships—things that stay in long-term memory and actually give us joy.
Memento Mori: The Reminder We All Avoid
Memento mori is a Latin phrase that means “Remember you will die.”
It sounds uncomfortable, but it’s actually the most powerful reminder to live. Ancient philosophers used to carry small skulls or tokens to remind themselves that life could end at any moment. Far from depressing them, it kept them awake to what mattered.
Think about it: death isn’t waiting patiently at the finish line. It walks with us every day. We just refuse to look at it.
When you accept that your time is limited, you stop being distracted by noise. You:
Spend more time with people who matter.
Take risks that align with your heart.
Appreciate even the small, ordinary days.
The paradox is simple: by remembering death, we start living more fully.
How Short Is Our Life, Really?
Here’s a perspective shift.
Earth has existed for 4.5 billion years.
Dinosaurs ruled for 165 million years.
The average human life? 70–80 years.
If Earth’s history were condensed into a 24-hour clock, humans would only appear in the last few seconds before midnight.
That’s how small our time is. Yet, within those seconds, humans have painted masterpieces, written symphonies, split atoms, and walked on the moon.
The length of life doesn’t determine its weight. Meaning is found in how you spend your seconds.
The Only Currency That Matters: Time
Money can be earned, lost, and earned again. Careers can be rebuilt. Even health, to some extent, can be restored.
But time? Once it slips away, there’s no refund.
Steve Jobs, who built one of the largest companies in the world, said on his deathbed:
“Non-stop pursuing wealth only turns a person into a twisted being, just like me. In the dark, I can only see the blinking lights of life-support machines. You can employ someone to drive a car for you, or to make money for you, but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you or to die for you.”
Even one of the richest men in history admitted: time is the only real treasure.
So ask yourself: Where is your time going today? Is it building moments worth remembering—or is it dissolving into meaningless tasks?
Your life is not made of years. It’s made of moments.
Finding Meaning in Helping Others
Humans are wired for connection. It’s in our biology. Studies show that helping others activates the same reward centers in the brain as eating good food or receiving money.
Look at history’s most remembered figures:
Mother Teresa didn’t build wealth, she built hope.
Mahatma Gandhi didn’t accumulate property, he accumulated people’s trust and faith.
Even in your own life, the teachers, friends, or family who touched you with kindness are the ones you remember most—not the people who drove luxury cars.
Helping others is not just noble—it’s practical psychology. When you give, your life expands beyond yourself. You become woven into other people’s stories. And that’s where true meaning lies.
Action Steps: How to Start Living Before It’s Too Late
Big truths can feel overwhelming. So here are small, practical ways to start living with meaning:
Practice Memento Mori Daily – Keep a token, note, or even a phone wallpaper that reminds you: “Life is short. Don’t waste it.”
Audit Your Time – Track a week of your life. Notice where the hours vanish. Replace low-value habits (scrolling, gossip, overwork) with things that create memories.
Create Legacy Moments – Instead of chasing possessions, invest in experiences. A road trip with friends. Teaching your child something. Volunteering once a week. These moments outlive you.
Do One Act of Kindness Daily – It doesn’t have to be big. A smile, a helping hand, or even sending a thoughtful message. These small things stack up.
Check the Deathbed Test – Ask yourself: “Would this matter to me if I had one week left?” If the answer is no, reconsider how much of your life it deserves.
Final Thought: Stop Being Short-Sighted
Life is fragile. Life is short. Life is now.
In the grand timeline of Earth, we are here for a blink. But in that blink, you can love, you can create, you can lift others.
Because at the end, nobody remembers the size of your bank account or the square footage of your house. They remember how you made them feel. They remember if you cared.
And when you’re gone, your name will not be carved in stone—it will be written in hearts.
👉 If this resonated with you, don’t just close the tab. Share it with someone you love. Start the conversation today. Because tomorrow isn’t promised.
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