What can you say about the end?
It comes at you like a ship in the night.
I’ve attended a wake recently. It was held under a block of flats. With a cold wind blowing in on a rainy night. It added a certain melancholy to the scene.
The wake was for a distant relative that was close to the family. His nickname was the Black Dragon. Despite the ominous name, he was always smiling and provided wisdom to others who needed it. He was one of the bright sparks of our family and usually the life of the party.
We used to sit and have conversations with an ice-cold beer (before lunch). It was during these conversations where he would share lessons on life or some pro tips (clear liquor is worse for your liver).
After saying bye for the day it would only be the next family gathering that I’ll get to see him.
We often don't take advantage of the time we have with people.
No matter which stage of your life you're in, you'll never know if you're nearing the end of your time with someone else.
Like how the last time I said goodbye to Black Dragon would be the last time I would see him alive.
These trickles down to not only family but friends as well. When was the last time you saw someone for the last time?
The people you used to spend all your time with in your teens are the people you meet once a year.
Tim Urban has three ways he copes with relationships slipping away:
1) Living in the same place as the people you love matters.
I probably have 10X the time left with the people who live in my city as I do with the people who live somewhere else.
2) Priorities matter.
Your remaining face time with any person depends largely on where that person falls on your list of life priorities. Make sure this list is set by you—not by unconscious inertia.
3) Quality time matters.
If you’re in your last 10% of the time with someone you love, keep that fact in the front of your mind when you’re with them and treat that time as what it actually is: precious.
Link to the article.
This week’s newsletter was more pensive than usual but as weird as it is to say I hope you enjoyed it.
As crowded as the world seems to be it’s normal to feel alone. Do reach out if you’d like to have a conversation. My inbox is always open.